Amir Muqam rejects Bilawal’s claims over AJK…
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam has strongly rejected Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s allegations regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. He urged the PPP to accept the public mandate instead of questioning the election results.
Addressing a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) public gathering in the Khawra area of Muzaffarabad, Muqam said the people of Mirpur had freely voted for the PML-N. He stated that the election outcome reflected the will of the people and should be respected by all political parties.
Muqam said the PPP should review the reasons behind its electoral defeat instead of making accusations of rigging. According to him, the party should reflect on why voters chose another political party rather than blaming the election process.
The federal minister also pointed out that the government and administrative setup in Azad Kashmir are under the influence of the PPP. He argued that, under such circumstances, allegations of election manipulation were difficult to justify. He maintained that political leaders should avoid making baseless claims and instead respect the democratic decision of the electorate.
Responding to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s warning directed at the federal government, Muqam said repeated threats were not appropriate in a democratic system. He remarked that the PPP should remember it is itself part of the country’s political structure and continues to hold important constitutional positions.
He further said that political stability should remain a priority and warned that if one government falls, the consequences could affect the entire political system. He stressed that responsible political leadership requires dialogue and respect for democratic institutions rather than confrontational statements.
The exchange of remarks follows Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s speech in Muzaffarabad, where he warned that if the AJK elections were manipulated or the public mandate was ignored, the federal government’s “countdown” would begin.
Bilawal had alleged that any attempt to undermine the election results would have political consequences and called for transparency in the electoral process.
The controversy has intensified political tensions following the AJK elections, with leaders from different parties exchanging criticism over the results.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal also responded to Bilawal’s allegations. He questioned why the PPP accepted election results when it formed governments elsewhere but raised allegations of rigging after losing in Azad Kashmir.
Iqbal urged the PPP leadership to respect the outcome of the elections and accept the decision made by voters. He said political parties should strengthen democratic traditions by honoring the people’s mandate regardless of the results.
