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AJK polls shaping up to be ‘Nawaz vs Bilawal’ contest
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Elections & Politics

AJK polls shaping up to be ‘Nawaz vs Bilawal’ contest

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections are shaping up to be a contest between PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
  • Both parties are intensifying their campaigns, with Sharif making a high-profile return to lead the PML-N's efforts after a low profile.
  • Observers note the PML-N faces challenges due to resentment over its alleged role in suppressing protests, while the PPP aims to capitalize on controversial remarks made by PML-N ministers.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections are rapidly evolving into a direct contest between two prominent political figures: PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. With less than a week remaining until polling, both parties have escalated their campaign strategies, deploying their top leadership to galvanize their respective support bases.

We learnt a lot from Gilgit-Baltistan elections where we did not expect that PPP Chairman Bilawal would…even choose PPP candidates by himself.

— Ikhtiyar WaliPM’s information adviser Ikhtiyar Wali commented on the PML-N's strategy shift after learning from past electoral mistakes.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is already actively campaigning in AJK, mirroring his successful approach in Gilgit-Baltistan where his party ultimately formed the government. Seeking to avoid a repeat of that outcome, Nawaz Sharif, who had maintained a low profile, is now stepping in to spearhead the PML-N's election campaign in Kashmir. He is scheduled to address multiple rallies across the region.

We learnt a lot from Gilgit-Baltistan elections where we did not expect that PPP Chairman Bilawal would…even choose PPP candidates by himself.

— Ikhtiyar WaliPM’s information adviser Ikhtiyar Wali commented on the PML-N's strategy shift after learning from past electoral mistakes.

Political observers anticipate a challenging election for the PML-N, partly due to widespread discontent stemming from its alleged involvement in suppressing protests organized by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Despite these headwinds, the PML-N is reportedly deploying all available efforts to secure victory, determined not to cede ground to the PPP as it did in Gilgit-Baltistan.

We learnt a lot from Gilgit-Baltistan elections where we did not expect that PPP Chairman Bilawal would…even choose PPP candidates by himself.

— Ikhtiyar WaliPM’s information adviser Ikhtiyar Wali commented on the PML-N's strategy shift after learning from past electoral mistakes.

Adding to the political friction, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has sharply criticized the PML-N, attributing the crackdown on protesters to the federal government led by the PML-N. He highlighted controversial remarks by Khawaja Asif, suggesting a federal cabinet member doubted Rawalkot's status as part of AJK, a claim he stated the prime minister had not refuted. Bhutto-Zardari vowed the PPP would "hunt the lion" in Kashmir's mountains. In response, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah urged him to avoid statements that could inflame tensions. However, PPP leader Sharjeel Memon countered that Bhutto-Zardari was attempting to defuse the situation created by PML-N ministers, accusing them of making "irresponsible and anti-Kashmir statements" that fostered a negative atmosphere and insulted the Kashmiri people.

We learnt a lot from Gilgit-Baltistan elections where we did not expect that PPP Chairman Bilawal would…even choose PPP candidates by himself.

— Ikhtiyar WaliPM’s information adviser Ikhtiyar Wali commented on the PML-N's strategy shift after learning from past electoral mistakes.
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Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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