Govt, 'protesters' must agree to formation of a truth commission to resolve unrest in AJK, demands Bilawal

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has called for the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission to address the ongoing tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He urged both the government and the "protesters" to agree to this measure, emphasizing its necessity for restoring peace and ensuring fairness during the historic elections.

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It is necessary that during these historic elections, we restore peace and maintain fairness and transparency. To honour the future of Kashmir and Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, this is not about anyone’s victory or defeat. The state and the protestors will have to accept this recommendation from the PPP.

The PPP has consistently advocated for such a commission amidst widespread protests in AJK. The regional administration and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have been in conflict over several issues, most notably the JAAC's demand to abolish 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. This dispute has led to significant protests across the region.

Addressing an event in Muzaffarabad, Bhutto-Zardari stated that the formation of the commission was crucial for the future of Kashmir and Pakistan's stance on the issue. He proposed that the state should form the commission to ascertain the truth, and protesters should temporarily halt their demonstrations until its findings are presented. However, he noted that neither party had shown willingness to compromise.

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All the state had to do was form a truth and reconciliation commission and task it with discerning the truth, and the protestors would have been asked to halt their protests until the commission presented its findings.

Bhutto-Zardari expressed concern for the "innocent Kashmiris" caught in the middle of the dispute. He accused the state of prioritizing the interests of the PML-N political party over the welfare of Kashmir. He stressed that the unrest could have been resolved peacefully without endangering anyone, advocating for investigations and commission findings rather than street-level confrontations to determine responsibility.

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What will then become of my innocent Kashmiris, who have no connection to either the protestors or the government?

"I understand their pain, whether they are right or wrong. I feel for their mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers," Bhutto-Zardari said, adding that protesters should not be punished on the streets. He insisted that a commission should identify perpetrators and agents, asserting that the issue could not be resolved through public demonstrations.

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I understand their pain, whether they are right or wrong. I feel for their mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers.