Addressing the National Assembly, Bilawal singled out Defence Minister Khawaja Asif over remarks questioning whether residents of Rawalakot were Kashmiris.

Rawalakot is the epicentre of protests led by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) against the reservation of 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly for refugees.

“Why do we have ministers who say that residents of Rawalakot are not Kashmiris?” Bilawal demanded, adding that the minister had yet to apologise.

He also referenced a separate statement by a federal minister who claimed the 12 contested seats were “in our pocket,” saying such remarks gave those seeking to destabilise Kashmir a ready pretext.

“One federal minister, instead of extinguishing the fire, poured more fuel on it,” he said.

Bilawal, whose PPP is a coalition partner at the Centre, said he had twice voted for Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister and acknowledged the government’s efforts to pursue a political resolution in AJK.

He urged the premier to give Maulana Fazlur Rehman a mandate to facilitate dialogue between protesters and the federal and AJK governments.

“If ministers continue making contradictory statements that do not align with the prime minister’s policy, it will only create further obstacles,” he warned.

Local body elections

Addressing MQM-P lawmakers, Bilawal accused certain coalition colleagues of deliberately misleading them and using the local government issue as a tool to pit parties against each other.

He called for local body elections to be held within 90 days in Islamabad and across the country ahead of any constitutional amendment, and announced that PPP — having formed a government in Gilgit-Baltistan — would hold local government elections there within 90 days as well.

Bilawal thanks GB voters

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament House, Bilawal thanked GB voters and acknowledged PML-N’s support in recognising PPP’s mandate in the territory.

He also expressed hope that PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Asim Munir’s efforts towards an Iran-US peace deal would succeed, saying a resolution would ease Pakistan’s economic burden.

He added that the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project — initiated by President Asif Ali Zardari — would be the priority once regional conditions improved.