Suvarnabhumi Airport road maintenance to disrupt traffic for seven months

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reiterated that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) alone should have the authority to determine their government and future, as political campaigning intensifies ahead of the second phase of the AJK elections. In a video message focusing on the Kashmiri people’s right to self-governance, Bilawal said his party was committed to ensuring that the residents of Azad Kashmir enjoy the same democratic rights as every citizen of Pakistan. “I want the people of Kashmir to receive the same rights that every Pakistani citizen enjoys,” Bilawal said, adding that the most fundamental of these rights is the right to sovereignty through the power of the vote. Explaining his vision, the PPP chairman said the true meaning of sovereignty is that every vote should be respected and accurately reflected in the election results. According to him, the public mandate must remain free from outside influence so that the will of the people prevails. Bilawal also stressed the need for greater representation of Azad Kashmir in national decision-making institutions. He argued that whenever key decisions are made regarding the region’s water resources, electricity or budgetary matters, Kashmir should have its own seat and an effective voice at the table. He maintained that stronger institutional representation would ensure that the interests of the people of Azad Kashmir are protected while promoting more inclusive governance. As part of his election campaign, Bilawal urged voters to support the PPP in the upcoming polls, asking them to stamp the party’s traditional arrow symbol on August 2. He said the election represented an opportunity for the people to safeguard their democratic rights and send a clear message that the future of Kashmir should be determined by its own citizens. The PPP chairman’s remarks come as political parties intensify their campaigns across Azad Kashmir ahead of polling, with issues of governance, development, constitutional rights and public representation dominating election debates. The second phase of the Azad Kashmir elections is expected to draw significant voter participation, with major political parties competing for crucial seats. Political analysts believe voter turnout and public confidence in the electoral process will play a decisive role in shaping the region’s next government and its political direction in the years ahead.

Another group of 110 Pakistani students has safely returned from Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing following efforts to facilitate the repatriation of citizens affected by tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to border security officials, the students were brought back as part of ongoing arrangements to ensure the safe return of Pakistanis who had remained stranded across the border. Earlier, around 70 Pakistani students were also repatriated through the same crossing about a month ago. Authorities said the latest return reflects continued coordination between officials on both sides of the border to ease the movement of stranded individuals. The repatriation process was carried out smoothly under agreed arrangements aimed at addressing humanitarian concerns. In addition to the return of students, authorities also permitted 592 Pakistani cargo trucks to re-enter the country through the Torkham border. The move is expected to provide relief to transporters and traders whose commercial activities had been disrupted due to restrictions at the border. Border officials said the phased return of students and commercial vehicles was made possible through coordinated efforts involving diplomatic representatives, border security authorities from both countries and local facilitators working to improve cross-border movement.