Azad Jammu and Kashmir election unrest sparks political outreach

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto‑Zardari visited Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ahead of the July 27 elections, meeting regional leaders including AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore and members of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The visit was presented as an effort to persuade protestors to abandon violence, a move echoed by Overseas Pakistani Foundation chairman Syed Qamar Raza who described his contacts with JAAC as a personal initiative.

Bilawal called on the federal government to "reopen" AJK, drawing a parallel with Pakistan’s role in mediating a US‑Iran ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. He proposed establishing a truth and reconciliation commission to address grievances over the ban on JAAC under the Anti‑Terrorism Act and protests demanding the abolition of 12 refugee‑reserved seats in the AJK legislature. The leader warned against punitive measures that could harm ordinary citizens and urged both protesters and authorities to avoid further hardship.

The political engagement occurs amid heightened tensions and sit‑ins in AJK, with parties seeking to position themselves as key actors before what Bilawal described as the most important election in the region’s history.