Bilawal urges restraint amid AJK protests, defends constitutional consensus on key national issues
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Thursday called for restraint over ongoing protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), warning that unrest could harm both regional stability and Pakistan’s international image.
Speaking during the budget debate in the National Assembly, Bilawal said most commitments made under the post-election governing arrangement in AJK had already been fulfilled. “Pakistan Peoples Party is a political party; we worked hard in the election campaign,” he said, adding that “80 per cent of the agreement has been completed”.
He said the remaining issues were long-term in nature and required continued coordination between federal and regional authorities.
Bilawal urged political actors to pursue their demands through constitutional and democratic institutions rather than street agitation. “Those who are protesting are damaging the reputation of Pakistan and Kashmir,” he said. “These issues should be resolved inside Parliament, not on the streets.”
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At the same time, he acknowledged the existence of genuine grievances and said they should be addressed through political engagement rather than dismissal.
Bilawal also highlighted concerns regarding political representation in AJK, particularly the longstanding issue of refugee seats in the legislative framework.
He argued that the system, under which 12 refugee seats are elected by voters residing outside the territory, had created structural complications that would not be accepted elsewhere in Pakistan.
“If something like this happened in Punjab or Balochistan, people would also protest,” he said, adding that concerns over external influence in electoral representation would generate similar objections in any province.
He maintained that such matters should be resolved through dialogue, consensus and constitutional reform.
Federal-provincial consensus on defence spending
Earlier in his address, Bilawal defended the agreement between the federal and provincial governments to contribute towards extraordinary defence and security expenditures, insisting that the arrangement was constitutional and did not undermine provincial autonomy.
He said the mechanism had been developed through political consensus and within the framework of the Constitution, citing Article 164, which allows the federation and provinces to provide grants to one another for expenditures outside their respective domains.
“The most important point is that these decisions have not been taken through any unconstitutional means, but within the ambit of the Constitution,” he told lawmakers.
According to Bilawal, speculation before the budget had suggested the federal government might seek to curtail provincial financial rights, revisit the 18th Constitutional Amendment, alter the National Finance Commission (NFC) framework, or reduce funding for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).
Instead, he said negotiations between the government and the PPP had produced “a constitutional and democratic solution” that would help meet national security requirements while safeguarding provincial interests.
“We have agreed with the government that Sindh and the other provinces will make contributions for national defence,” he said.
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Bilawal said the federal government had guaranteed that provincial allocations under the Seventh NFC Award would remain protected. “The provinces’ NFC share is secure. Beyond this arrangement, no further share or sacrifice will be demanded from provincial governments.”
Describing the agreement as more than a financial arrangement, Bilawal called it “a victory for Pakistani politics” and proof that democratic institutions and political parties could work together when national interests were at stake.
Gilgit-Baltistan’s constitutional status
Questioning the current arrangement, he asked: “How long will we keep denying them the right to sit in this House? How long will we keep saying you belong to this valley or that district, but cannot decide your own future?”
He argued that representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan should be allowed to sit in Parliament and participate fully in national decision-making.
Bilawal said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan had “fought their own battles for freedom” before choosing to accede to Pakistan. “They fought against Dogra rule and won their independence, and then came to Karachi and said they wanted to be part of Pakistan,” he said.
Recalling the region’s political evolution, Bilawal said Pakistan had inherited a feudal and colonial-style administrative structure that was later dismantled through reforms.
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He credited former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with abolishing the old feudal order and introducing reforms that expanded basic rights and economic support for residents. He said these reforms helped establish a lasting relationship between the PPP and the people of the region.
Referring to a recent visit to Gilgit-Baltistan, Bilawal said he had assured residents that issues related to ownership rights, employment opportunities and political representation would be addressed.
“People there trust us because of history and because of promises we made,” he said, reaffirming the PPP’s commitment to securing constitutional and political rights for the region.
Provincial finances and IMF-linked surpluses
Rejecting the perception that provinces enjoyed abundant fiscal space, Bilawal argued that provincial governments had repeatedly made financial sacrifices to support national economic stability.
He maintained that although the 18th Amendment and the Seventh NFC Award were historic constitutional achievements, provinces had not always received their full financial entitlements.
Citing the petroleum levy as an example, he said it was introduced temporarily following the devastating 2010 floods but continued to be collected by the federal government. “The provinces have still not received their share from petroleum levies, gas levies and other levies,” he said.
Bilawal also highlighted budget surpluses generated under Pakistan’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, describing them as another form of provincial contribution.
According to him, Punjab recorded surpluses of approximately Rs700 billion last year and Rs900 billion this year, while Sindh posted surpluses of around Rs300 billion and Rs400 billion respectively.
He argued that these resources could otherwise have been invested in local development projects and public services.
Referring to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and the merged tribal districts, Bilawal said both federal and provincial governments had yet to fully deliver on development commitments made after the merger of the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
He nevertheless welcomed the participation of the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in the defence funding arrangement, saying it had put aside political differences in the national interest.
Defence, poverty and national cohesion
Bilawal argued that national strength was not determined solely by military capability but also by public trust, political unity and social cohesion. “When national interests are involved, if we continue to work together in this way, there is no challenge Pakistan cannot confront,” he said.
He also strongly defended the Benazir Income Support Programme, describing it as a successful social protection initiative recognised by international institutions. “The world is not telling Pakistan to cut this programme. It is telling Pakistan that this is a successful programme and should be expanded,” he said.
Bilawal argued that BISP had improved education, maternal health and disaster relief efforts while serving as an effective mechanism for reaching vulnerable communities.
Describing social protection as both a moral obligation and an economic necessity, he said support provided to low-income households strengthened local economies because recipients spent assistance on food, healthcare, education and other essentials. “The poor do not hoard wealth. They return it to the economy,” he said.
He also linked poverty alleviation to national security, arguing that extremism and insurgency could not be defeated through force alone. “If you want to defeat extremism and terrorism, you have to win hearts and minds,” he said. “Any nation that wins the hearts of its people cannot be defeated.”
Economic growth and development priorities
Bilawal argued that economic growth should be measured by improvements in living standards rather than gains among wealthy groups alone. “Pakistan’s economy cannot truly progress if the rich continue getting richer while the poor become poorer,” he said.
He maintained that agricultural growth should benefit ordinary farmers, industrial expansion should create opportunities for workers, and development policies should prioritise neglected regions.
Reflecting on his tenure as foreign minister, Bilawal recalled discussions about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying greater emphasis on projects in less-developed areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan could have generated broader economic benefits and reduced regional disparities.
He also criticised Pakistan’s dependence on borrowing, arguing that the country continued to take new loans to finance budgets and repay existing debt. “Pakistan is running on debt. We borrow to run our budget and we borrow to repay previous debt,” he said.
Bilawal called for growth-oriented policies and productive investment aimed at reducing dependence on borrowing while expanding opportunities beyond major urban centres.
India-Israel nexus and regional security concerns
Expanding his remarks to broader security issues, Bilawal alleged that external actors were attempting to exploit Pakistan’s internal divisions.
“There is an India-Israel nexus working against Pakistan,” he said, linking unrest in parts of the country to what he described as efforts to destabilise Pakistan through external interference.
He warned against attempts to create divisions within society and stressed the need for national unity in the face of regional challenges.
Warning over Indus Waters Treaty
In a strongly worded section of his speech, Bilawal accused India of pursuing policies aimed at undermining Pakistan’s water security and warned that any attempt to block Pakistan’s water would provoke a national response. “We are watching Modi’s conspiracies, but I want to tell him that all his conspiracies will be defeated, Inshallah,” he said.
Referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, Bilawal said any effort to disregard the agreement would be unacceptable. “Modi says he will stop our water. Modi says he does not accept the Indus Waters Treaty. That is a mistake,” he said.
He claimed that Pakistan stood united on the issue and was prepared to defend its water rights. “If they are bent on stopping Pakistan’s water, then Pakistan is ready for war, Inshallah,” he said.
Bilawal described water security as a national priority and called for a coordinated strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s water management system.
He stressed the importance of protecting the Indus Waters Treaty while simultaneously investing in domestic water infrastructure. “We are ready to protect Pakistan’s water and defend the Indus Waters Treaty,” he said.
The PPP chairman urged the government to accelerate work on major dam and irrigation projects, including the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, arguing that delays continued to undermine the country’s water storage and distribution capacity. “We must ensure that ongoing projects are completed, instead of waiting for years while projects remain incomplete and losses continue,” he said.
Bilawal also referred to growing environmental pressures, including glacier melt and increasing regional water stress.
He noted that some countries facing excess water availability due to climate change were exploring ways to redirect surplus resources through international cooperation and infrastructure projects.
He suggested that Pakistan should examine broader regional opportunities for water cooperation while strengthening its own internal capacity.
The PPP chairman proposed exploring water supply arrangements with Central Asian states, arguing that alternative sources could help address future shortages and strengthen Pakistan’s long-term water resilience.
According to Bilawal, diversifying water supply options would complement existing arrangements under the Indus Waters Treaty and reduce vulnerability to external pressures.
Concluding his remarks, Bilawal stressed that constitutional questions, political disputes and national security challenges required dialogue, political consensus and democratic engagement rather than confrontation. “We must debate this in a normal manner. Solutions cannot be imposed by force,” he said.
He reiterated that the PPP would continue to pursue reforms through elections and democratic institutions while advocating for the political rights of the people of AJK and G-B. “Pakistan stands at a crossroads. If we resolve these issues through consensus, then I believe victory will be Pakistan’s, and defeat will be for every opponent,” he said.Read More
