A tweet by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif about the people of Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), as well as the ongoing situation in the region, dominated National Assembly proceedings on Wednesday, with the minister urging politicians to correct the mistakes of the past.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over his remarks about Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) during a heated session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
In a television interview, Asif said Rawalakot – which has seen protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) – was “not Kashmir” and that he did not regard its residents as Kashmiris. He later clarified the remarks on X, saying that “Kashmiriat is defined by the sacrifices and struggles waged over almost eight decades” by Pakistanis, Kashmiris and others, “not by birth certificates”.
While addressing the assembly during debate on the federal budget, Bilawal said, “There are certain ministers whose politics I do not understand. Instead of helping the prime minister, they create problems for him.”
The PPP chairman went on to say that every coalition partner, every member of the opposition and every citizen of Pakistan should ask “why such a minister is still in the cabinet,” he said, adding: “How is it possible for us to accept that a federal minister can say that the Kashmiris of Rawalakot are not Kashmiris?”
Bilawal called for a more coordinated and positive political approach to jointly address Pakistan’s political, economic and geopolitical challenges.
He said all political parties should work together to resolve national issues and make use of emerging opportunities for stability and development.
He appreciated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s efforts to engage both coalition partners and opposition parties in a constructive manner.
However, he expressed concern over certain political statements and conduct of some individuals, saying such remarks create unnecessary complications instead of helping resolve issues.
He said this attitude weakens the spirit of political cooperation needed to move the country forward.
Referring to the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bilawal said efforts had been made by the government and political stakeholders to resolve the issue politically.
He stressed that all actors should act responsibly and avoid statements that could deepen divisions or hurt public sentiment.
He urged the House to ensure political dialogue remains respectful and constructive, with all parties focusing on national unity and economic stability.
He said the Kashmir issue remains sensitive and long-standing, and should be addressed through dialogue.
He called on political parties, including coalition partners, to work together to reduce tensions in Azad Kashmir and engage all stakeholders, including protest groups, for a peaceful solution.
Bilawal said political matters should always be resolved through political means, adding that the Prime Minister’s approach to lowering tensions through dialogue was a positive step.
Referring to past political agreements, including the 1973 Constitution and the 18th Amendment, he said these reflected the importance of consensus politics in Pakistan.
He said the PPP has always supported democratic continuity and constitutional supremacy.
He added that politics of confrontation weakens democratic institutions and urged parties to work for collective national progress.
He said governance issues, including those related to Karachi and other urban centres, should not be politicised and stressed the need to address public concerns through cooperation rather than blame.
Bilawal further said constitutional reforms should focus on devolution of powers instead of creating administrative bottlenecks.
He added that Islamabad should also have empowered local governance within the constitutional timeframe.
He said that political dialogue should remain focused on governance reforms, local government empowerment and constitutional development, rather than
unnecessary confrontation, reiterating that the PPP believes in strengthening democracy through constitutional means and transparent, people-centric political processes.
The debate took another turn when PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf objected to remarks previously made by Asif regarding Rawalakot. He said questioning the Kashmiri identity of Rawalakot residents amounted to an insult to the Kashmiris.
Stressing that dialogue was needed to resolve disagreements, former prime minister Ashraf said no party had stronger ties to the Kashmir cause than the PPP, recalling former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s pledge to fight for Kashmir.
Responding, Asif said he had already explained his position publicly. He maintained that his remarks were made in response to statements issued by others and insisted that identity was not determined by a birth certificate alone. He said he stood by his remarks.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman told the house that he had responded through a video message to a letter issued by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and had also informed the government of his position.
The JUI-F chief welcomed the committee’s decision to postpone a planned march towards Muzaffarabad and questioned whether state action based solely on speeches was an appropriate response.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah welcomed Fazlur Rehman’s offer to play a mediatory role in AJK and said the government had already taken substantial steps to address concerns raised by protesters there.
He said issues concerning refugee seats in the AJK Assembly could only be resolved by the assembly itself and noted that a committee had been established to examine the matter. However, he said JAAC had boycotted the committee’s meetings and instead called protests aimed at disrupting the upcoming elections.
Rana Sanaullah rejected the impression that no serious effort had been made to resolve the AJK situation through dialogue and democratic means. He added that the situation remained largely peaceful except at a few protest sites.
On a separate note, Rana Sanaullah said discussions were ongoing with coalition partners, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), on strengthening local governments under Article 140-A of the Constitution.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneOur CorrespondentRead More