Bilawal asks Imran govt to stress on Kashmir plebiscite

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has urged the government of Pakistan to lay more emphasis on the right to self-determination of Kashmiri people through a plebiscite, guaranteed by the United Nations resolutions, Dawn newspaper reported.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at the residence of former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed in the lakeside city of Mirpur, where he arrived to meet the earthquake victims, he said his party would try its best to raise a forceful voice for this right of the Kashmiris at every forum.

"It's the right of every Kashmiri to decide his future on his own free accord. And the only way for it is a plebiscite in accordance with the United Nations resolutions," said Bhutto-Zardari, according to the report.

"The government's viewpoint is that the prime minister made the best speech (at the UNGA). Perhaps it was a good speech. But the PPP believes is that our emphasis should have been on that (August 5) historical attack.

"Climate change, money laundering... these all are important issues but the biggest issue was the imprisonment of the entire Kashmiri population since August 5 and this should have been focused by the PM," he added.

According to the Dawn report, the PPP chairman earlier visited the Divisional Headquarters Hospital to inquire after the health of earthquake victims, besides visiting an affected area for first-hand information on the scale of the devastation and condition of the survivors.

Responding to a question at the press conference, he demanded that the federal government provide compensation to the earthquake victims in accordance with the rest of Pakistan.

"We demand that the compensation should be given in line with the damages whose assessment is not a difficult task. We know that the federal government has enough money," he said.

AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider telephoned the PPP chairman and expressed his gratitude for visiting the quake-hit area, according to a press release.

In response, Bhutto-Zardari told him that he, his party and Sindh government were ready to extend all possible assistance to the quake victims.

He said he had asked the Sindh government to cooperate with the AJK government on rehabilitation and reconstruction programme in the affected areas.