Kashmir's future should be decided by the people of Kashmir: Bilawal

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) should enjoy the same democratic rights as every Pakistani citizen, arguing that their "right to sovereignty" begins with the ability to choose their own representatives freely.

Bilawal’s remarks came amid heightened political tensions following the first phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections in Mirpur Division, where the PML-N emerged as the leading party while the PPP alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

PML-N secured a commanding lead in the first phase of the AJK elections, winning nine of the 13 seats contested in Mirpur Division, according to the official results notified by the AJK Election Commission. PPP won the remaining four seats.

The second phase will cover nine general constituencies in Muzaffarabad, Jhelum Valley and Neelum Valley, along with 12 reserved seats for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) residing in Pakistan.

In a video message posted on X ahead of the second phase of the AJK legislative assembly elections on August 2, Bilawal said he wanted to secure for Kashmiris "the same rights that every Pakistani citizen enjoys", adding that "the first of these rights is the right to sovereignty."

Explaining what he meant, the PPP chairman said that the right to sovereignty means "your vote, your decision." he said that "whoever you vote for, the result should also come in their favour."

He further stated that "the people of Kashmir should themselves decide the government of Kashmir and the future of Kashmir", while calling for greater representation in federal decision-making.

Bilawal said Kashmir should have "its own seat and its own voice" in Pakistani institutions where decisions are made regarding the region's water, electricity and budget.

Urging voters to support the PPP in the upcoming polls, he said, "On August 2, stamp the Arrow for the right to sovereignty, because Kashmir's decision will be made by Kashmir."

Read: PPP alliance with PML-N in Centre not endangered by AJK polls criticism, Bilawal says

The elections are being held in three phases under a revised schedule announced by AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal on July 21. The first phase covered all 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division, while polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies would be held on August 2, followed by Poonch (Rawalakot) Division on August 10.

In the first phase, PML-N swept all three constituencies in Bhimber, secured four of six seats in Kotli, and shared Mirpur district's four seats evenly with the PPP, giving the ruling party an early advantage ahead of the remaining two phases of the polls.

Elections held amid rigging allegations in first phase

Despite the extensive security arrangements, election day was overshadowed by allegations of rigging and sporadic violence, as coalition partners at the centre — the PML-N and the PPP — traded accusations of electoral interference throughout the day.

The PML-N first alleged pre-poll rigging in Kotli's LA-10 constituency after party leaders claimed polling staff and election material had been found at a private residence instead of the designated polling station. The Election Commission later confirmed it had arrested and suspended two presiding officers over the incident, replacing them with new officials and initiating legal proceedings under election laws.

The PPP, meanwhile, repeatedly accused the federal government and the PML-N of using state machinery to influence the polls, alleging armed supporters attempted to disrupt voting at several polling stations and demanding immediate intervention by the Election Commission. The party also complained that polling at one station in Kotli remained suspended for nearly two hours, depriving voters of their right to cast ballots.

Tensions escalated further in LA-9 Kotli-II (Nikyal), where PPP worker Mukhtar Younus was killed during polling. The PPP alleged he was shot during incidents involving armed supporters of a PML-N candidate, while PML-N leaders disputed the party's account of the incident. Local authorities confirmed one person had died and two others, including the victim's father, were injured.

As the accusations intensified, senior leaders from both parties held competing press conferences. The PPP accused the federal government of interfering in the elections through development announcements and misuse of official resources, while the PML-N alleged the PPP was itself attempting to manipulate the vote, claiming ballot papers had been recovered from the residence of a rival candidate.

Throughout the day, the Election Commission maintained that strict action would be taken against any violations of the electoral code of conduct, saying irregularities and negligence would not be tolerated. Despite the controversies, polling concluded after the one-hour extension before vote counting began.