The federal minister rejected the PPP chairman’s allegations over Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, saying political parties should respect the public mandate.
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan — WEB DESK: Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Ameer Muqam has responded to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari over his remarks concerning the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, saying repeated political warnings should be avoided and that “if we go, everyone goes.”
Addressing a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) public gathering in Muzaffarabad, Ameer Muqam said the people of Mirpur had voted for the ruling party and urged the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to examine the reasons behind its electoral performance instead of making allegations.
Muqam urges respect for election results
The federal minister said the PPP should respect the public mandate rather than level what he described as baseless accusations.
He also claimed that the AJK government and administration were under the influence of the PPP, arguing that the party should acknowledge the voters’ decision.
Referring to Bilawal Bhutto’s criticism of the election process, Muqam said the PPP remained part of the country’s constitutional and political system and held key constitutional positions.
Bilawal’s earlier warning
A day earlier, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing a public rally in Muzaffarabad, warned that if the AJK elections were “stolen,” the federal government’s “countdown” would begin.
The PPP chairman alleged that any manipulation of the electoral process would have political consequences for the ruling coalition.
Ahsan Iqbal also responds
Separately, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal also criticised Bilawal Bhutto’s remarks.
Ahsan Iqbal questioned why the PPP accepted election outcomes when it formed governments elsewhere but rejected the results in AJK.
He urged the PPP chairman to accept the election results instead of alleging electoral irregularities.
The Election Commission has not publicly announced any findings supporting allegations of widespread rigging at the time of publication.
