Muttahida Madaris Council distances itself from Ma…

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.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has warned that any attempt to manipulate election results would trigger serious political consequences, saying the federal government’s “countdown” would begin if the public mandate was stolen. Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal stressed that elections must be decided through the ballot box and not through alleged interference or manipulation. He called for transparency in the electoral process and said any theft of votes should not be concealed. He said the principle of democracy demands that the candidate who receives the people’s votes should emerge victorious. Bilawal added that he wanted to see peace, justice and genuine public representation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The PPP chairman pledged to safeguard the rights of the people of Kashmir, saying decisions regarding the region should be made by its elected assembly. He also announced plans to convene a constitutional convention after the elections, bringing together representatives of the government, opposition, refugees, lawyers and civil society to discuss constitutional and governance reforms. Highlighting the concerns of Kashmiri refugees, Bilawal said their genuine representation must be protected. He argued that if their votes were manipulated or controlled by others, their longstanding issues would remain unresolved. He described Kashmiri refugees as an integral part of the region’s history and political movement and said Kashmir should have representation in institutions where major national decisions are made. During the address, Bilawal also extended what he described as a political olive branch to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), urging the party to abandon the politics of boycott and actively participate in the democratic process. He said PTI should contest elections, engage in parliamentary politics and work through committees instead of distancing itself from democratic institutions. Bilawal added that if the party intended to boycott every political process, it would have been better to remain outside politics altogether. Calling for broader political cooperation, the PPP chairman invited what he termed “serious politicians” from PTI and other political workers to join hands in pursuing parliamentary reforms. He said all democratic forces should work together to strengthen institutions and improve the country’s political system.