In reply to Nawaz, Bilawal says people of AJK not ready to 'bargain away their rights' in elections

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MUZAFFARABAD: Responding to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s recent jibe, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday said that whether it’s Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, their residents were “not ready to bargain away their rights”.

Bilawal’s response comes a day before the first phase of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is set to begin, with Mirpur voting on Monday. It also comes amid allegations of pre-poll rigging by the PPP after the PML-N gave 10 e-buses to Muzaffarabad and Mirpur as a “gift”.

Addressing a public rally in AJK’s Mirpur on Friday as part of his party’s election campaign, Nawaz had named Bilawal and said Kashmir should not be mistaken for Kashmore, nor Mirpur for Mirpurkhas — districts of Sindh where the PPP has been in power for years.

Subsequently, Bilawal shared a video statement on social media, beginning his message with, “Mian sahib, please don’t take offence”, as he tagged Nawaz’s X account in his post.