ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Tuesday announced a joint electoral alliance to contest the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled for July 27.
The announcement came after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his Islamabad residence. Following the meeting, the two leaders addressed a joint press conference, confirming that their parties would cooperate in the AJK elections.
Bilawal described the alliance as a new chapter in political cooperation between the two parties, saying it reflected a shared commitment to resolving the issues facing the people of Azad Kashmir through democratic and constitutional means.
He stressed that the legitimate concerns of the Kashmiri people should be addressed through parliament and the electoral process rather than through protests or unrest on the streets.
The PPP chairman praised Maulana Fazlur Rehman for his political experience and constructive role during challenging periods, saying he had always benefited from the JUI-F chief’s guidance.
Bilawal added that if the JUI-F was willing to play a positive role while sitting in the opposition, the government was equally prepared to engage in meaningful dialogue for the country’s benefit.
Referring to the election schedule already announced by the AJK Election Commission, Bilawal called for peaceful, transparent and credible elections free from controversy to ensure that the people of Kashmir could freely exercise their democratic rights.
He reiterated that political disagreements should be resolved through democratic institutions instead of strikes, long marches or street protests.
Bilawal also expressed hope that the PPP and JUI-F could expand their political cooperation in the future by forming coalition governments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sindh and Balochistan wherever possible.
He urged Maulana Fazlur Rehman to consult his party leadership so both parties could strengthen cooperation in constituencies where electoral alliances were feasible.
Discussing the ongoing situation in AJK, Bilawal said resolving the region’s challenges required coordinated efforts by the federal government, the AJK government and all political stakeholders.
Addressing protesters in Azad Kashmir, he appealed to them to remain peaceful and avoid taking the law into their own hands, emphasizing that sustainable solutions could only emerge through parliament and democratic institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman welcomed Bilawal’s visit and termed it a positive political development.
Responding to a question regarding refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, Fazlur Rehman said the matter could be resolved through dialogue, adding that negotiations—not force—were the appropriate way to settle political disputes.
He maintained that guns and batons could never provide lasting solutions, while dialogue remained the only effective path to resolving national issues.
Earlier this week, the PPP announced candidates for 35 of the 45 seats in the AJK Assembly, leaving decisions on eight constituencies pending while allocating two seats to its electoral ally, the JUI-F, under the newly announced arrangement.
The AJK Election Commission has scheduled the region’s general elections for July 27, with political parties now intensifying their campaigns ahead of polling day.