ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari sharply criticized Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, highlighting divisions within the ruling coalition over the management of unrest in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.
On Tuesday, Khawaja Asif defended his statements regarding the political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, describing them as “frank and honest.” He accused groups with “external agendas” of attempting to misrepresent his remarks. In a message posted on X, Asif asserted that those with “sinister agendas” could neither separate Kashmir from Pakistan nor Pakistan from Kashmir.
During the National Assembly debate on the federal budget, Bilawal accused Asif of intensifying regional tensions and criticized him for refusing to apologize for his comments about the Rawalakot protest. He stated that the minister’s remarks had aggravated an already volatile situation in Kashmir and undermined Pakistan’s diplomatic position on the disputed region.
Bilawal questioned why individuals who deny the Kashmiri identity of Rawalakot residents remain in the federal cabinet, emphasizing that the defence minister had not shown any willingness to retract his statements. He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to impose stricter discipline on cabinet members, noting that while the prime minister sincerely aims to guide the country through its challenges, some ministers continue to create obstacles.
Despite his criticism, the PPP leader reaffirmed his party’s support for the coalition government, mentioning that he had voted for Sharif twice and trusted his intentions for governance. He called on all political parties to unite in addressing economic difficulties and stressed the importance of finalizing and passing the federal budget before the upcoming Ashura holidays.
Turning to local governance, Bilawal demanded the holding of local government elections nationwide. He specifically promised that local council polls in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan would take place within 90 days. He dismissed arguments against the feasibility of local government structures, pointing out that such bodies continue to function effectively in provinces governed by the PPP.
