PPP chief: Constitutional amendments cannot be imposed through sit-ins or at gunpoint
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman said that constitutional amendments cannot be imposed through sit-ins or at gunpoint, stressing that any changes to the Constitution must be made through democratic consensus and the parliamentary process.
He said the Constitution is a national document that belongs to all citizens and should only be amended through dialogue, consultation and legal procedures rather than pressure tactics or coercion.
The PPP chief reaffirmed his party’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions, upholding the rule of law and resolving political differences through constitutional and parliamentary means. He added that political stability and respect for democratic norms are essential for the country’s progress and development.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday expressed concern over the recent violent protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), calling for the formation of a high-powered commission to investigate the incidents in accordance with the state’s laws.
Speaking to the PPP leadership and party ticket holders in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal said the situation in AJK was a matter of concern not only for the people of Kashmir but for the entire nation. He stressed that any investigation should be transparent, impartial and conducted within the legal framework to ensure accountability and maintain public confidence.
Bilawal’s comments came against the backdrop of escalating unrest in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where ongoing sit-ins and protests have turned violent ahead of the July 27 elections for the region’s 53-member Legislative Assembly.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government had declared the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) on June 5, accusing the group of involvement in terrorism.
The ban came days before the outfit’s planned June 9 protest demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who migrated to Pakistan after 1947.
Addressing party leaders in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal called for the formation of a high-powered commission with full authority to investigate the recent unrest in accordance with AJK’s laws. He urged law enforcement agencies to carry out impartial inquiries and asked politicians, protesters and all stakeholders to carefully consider their actions during the current situation.
He appealed to political parties to promote peace and exercise restraint, stressing that public statements should be made responsibly. Bilawal also said the Pakistan Army was a red line for the PPP, warning that rhetoric directed against the armed forces or anti-state narratives would not be tolerated.
The PPP chairman said his party was equally concerned whenever offensive remarks were made against the people of Kashmir, adding that commitments made to Kashmiris must be honoured. He maintained that neither violence nor protests could justify undermining the rule of law, and reiterated that constitutional amendments must be pursued through democratic and parliamentary processes rather than sit-ins or coercion.
Bilawal said the PPP had consistently championed the Kashmir cause and would continue to stand with the people of the region. He reaffirmed that Kashmiris alone had the right to determine their future while also supporting the protection of voting rights for refugees.
Commenting on regional issues, Bilawal criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and warned that Pakistan would firmly respond to any attempt to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), stressing there would be no compromise on the country’s water rights.
He also praised Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, saying his contribution to regional peace and stability was recognised by all.
Responding to a letter from the banned JAAC, Bilawal described the continued loss of lives in AJK, including the deaths reported a day earlier, as a national tragedy. He said every Kashmiri, as well as every police and security official, deserved equal protection and that no death should be accepted as the price of political disagreement.
To help ease tensions, Bilawal proposed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the consent of all stakeholders to investigate the crisis and pave the way for a peaceful resolution.
