Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Tuesday warned the federal government of consequences, saying the centre will forget the sit-ins of 2014 if they “dare rig” the elections in Azad Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference here, the PPP chairman criticised the government’s approach to address the escalation of violence in India-held Kashmir. He also asked world leaders to take notice of the issue.

“Kashmir is of strategic importance to Pakistan. Innocent people are dying in Kashmir every day. The issue has caught global attention but the government of Pakistan is silent on the matter.”

Bilawal said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should set his priorities straight. “Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) only knows how to rig elections,” he added.

At least 48 people have been killed and thousands injured since the death of 22-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen fighter Burhan Wani, who died in a controversial gun battle.

Bilawal in his July 16 address to the people of Muzaffarabad had also lambasted the federal government over its “lack of attention” to address the Kashmir issue.

Read more: Bilawal vows to make ‘Valley of Benazir’ in Kashmir

The federal cabinet’s decision to observe black day on July 19 had also received criticism. The mentioned date is s observed every year in renewal of the historical resolution of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan passed by the people of the state.

Read more: Accession day or black day; govt has no clue about Kashmir’s history

The July 19 decision was later reversed as the government announced it would observe nationwide black day against Indian atrocities in the violence-hit Kashmir valley on July 20 instead of July 19.