Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has sharply criticised the federal government, declaring that its "countdown has begun" after rejecting the recently held Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections as heavily rigged. His remarks signal growing political tensions despite the PPP remaining a key coalition ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the Centre.

In a video message, Bilawal alleged that the AJK polls were neither free nor fair, accusing authorities of orchestrating widespread electoral manipulation. Despite the outcome, he praised PPP workers for securing nine electoral seats and vowed that the party would continue challenging what it described as a stolen mandate. Bilawal dismissed the AJK elections as "rigged elections", "bullet elections", "murderous elections" and "bloody elections", claiming the democratic process had been compromised.

"You have won nine seats for the Pakistan Peoples Party despite all this," he told party workers, congratulating them on what he described as victories achieved under difficult circumstances. He also claimed the PPP would continue its struggle to reclaim seats that were allegedly "stolen" in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)