Rights aren't gifts, Bilawal tells PML-N

PPP chief says public services are entitlements, not political favours

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Sunday regardless of Kashmir or Kashmore, or Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, the were "not ready to bargain away their rights".

His remarks came in response to former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif's recent jibe at a public rally in AJK's Mirpur on Friday. Nawaz had said that Kashmir should not be mistaken for Kashmore, nor Mirpur for Mirpurkhas.

Bilawal shared a video statement on social media, beginning his message with, "Mian sahib, please don't take offence", as he tagged Nawaz's X account in his post. "Whether it's Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, not only do their names resemble each other; their temperament matches too, their honour matches too, and so does the courage to stand up for their rights," he said.

"Whether it's Kashmore or Kashmir, no one would let anyone rob them politically of their right to governance and right to ownership," he said. "Whether it's Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, their people are not ready to bargain away their rights."

The PPP chief stated that the people want to make their own decisions. They will not hand over power over their future to any other city, nor any other province. "Just as in the previous elections the people of Kashmir and Kashmore rejected the Muslim League, just as the [PML-N] was swept away in Mirpur and Mirpurkhas, the people will repeat that same verdict in the upcoming elections too."

In another post before that, Bilawal also directly commented on Nawaz and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's announcement of "gifting" electric buses and Hospitals on Wheels to people of AJK before the election.

"You are being promised buses, hospitals, roads, and an airport. I welcome every bus, every hospital, every road, and every airport. But something built with the public's money is not a gift from any politician - it is the public's right."

Meanwhile, in a special message ahead of general election in Mirpur, Bilawal urged voters to cast their ballots in favour of the PPP, saying their vote would support development, prosperity and peace in the region.

Bilawal said the rights of the people of Azad Kashmir would not be compromised and appealed to voters to stamp the 'Arrow' symbol on July 27. Bilawal said that whenever Pakistan had faced difficult times, the people of Mirpur had always stood at the forefront. He said no one could deny the people of Kashmir their rightful claim over their land, resources, decisions and future.

Referring to the current crisis and tensions, Bilawal called for the immediate establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to hear all stakeholders. He said a forum should be created where every truth could emerge, every grievance could be heard and justice delivered to affected families, whether the victims were civilians, police officers or security personnel.