Bilawal seeks open probe into AJK polls

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday called for a transparent and public examination of alleged irregularities in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections.

He urged the election commission to hold open hearings on all complaints before the second phase of polling on August 2.

In a statement, Bilawal said the credibility of the entire electoral process would depend on whether justice was ensured in the first phase.

He called on the commission to publicly hear all complaints relating to alleged rigging and to place polling station results, ballot papers and the complete election record before the public.

He stressed that the Election Commission's constitutional responsibility was not to ensure the victory of any political party but to protect the mandate of the people of Kashmir. "We are not asking for anyone's favour; we only want what is rightfully ours," he said, adding that the PPP sought only "free, fair and impartial elections."

Separately, Bilawal released a video message outlining his vision for the Kashmir Valley under the slogan "Jannat-e-Benazir" (Benazir's Paradise).

"I want to make the Kashmir Valley a Jannat-e-Benazir," he said. "Jannat-e-Benazir is not merely a slogan. It means a Kashmir where there is peace, justice and prosperity."

He said the vision envisaged a region where the people of Kashmir enjoyed the first right over their natural resources, every young person had access to employment, and Kashmiris determined their own future.

"My dream is built on three fundamental rights - the right to self-governance, the right to ownership and the right to employment," Bilawal said.

Appealing to voters ahead of the second phase of the elections, he urged them to support the PPP.

"On August 2, stamp the arrow and help turn the Kashmir valley into Jannat-e-Benazir," he said.