The Dar Bilawal meeting focused on Pakistan’s overall political situation and developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) during talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari at Aiwan-i-Sadr on Tuesday. The meeting comes ahead of the AJK general elections scheduled for July 27.
According to the PPP, both leaders reviewed the country’s political landscape, with particular attention to issues concerning AJK. The discussions took place as political parties continue preparations for the upcoming elections in the region, making the meeting significant in the evolving political environment.
The Dar Bilawal meeting follows another interaction between the two leaders held last week, during which they discussed developments in both Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. At that meeting, they also agreed on the importance of ensuring free, fair, and transparent elections in AJK.
The upcoming elections have gained further political significance following the announcement by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman that their parties will jointly contest the AJK polls. The alliance is expected to influence the electoral landscape in the region.
اسلام آباد: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری سے نائب وزیراعظم اور وزیرخارجہ اسحاق ڈار نے ایوان صدر میں ملاقات کی، اس موقع پر ملک کی مجموعی صورت حال سمیت آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے امور پر تبادلہ خیال ہوا۔@BBhuttoZardari pic.twitter.com/aZ1YmwxLZ8
— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) July 14, 2026
Meanwhile, the political atmosphere in AJK has become more active after the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) called for widespread protests demanding the abolition of 12 reserved seats. The development has added another dimension to the debate ahead of polling day.
The meeting also comes after the Pakistan Peoples Party formed the government in Gilgit-Baltistan last month with the support of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), reflecting the coalition arrangement currently in place at the federal level.
Political consultations between coalition partners continue as Pakistan prepares for key electoral events in AJK. The latest Dar Bilawal meeting highlights ongoing coordination on national political matters, regional developments, and the importance of maintaining a peaceful and transparent democratic process.
