The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has expressed deep grief over the crash of a Pakistan Air Force trainer aircraft near Mardan.

The President paid tribute to Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Qasim Abdullah and Lieutenant Taha Abbasi, who embraced martyrdom in the incident.

He prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs and fortitude for the bereaved families.

The President said the nation will always remember the sacrifices of its brave sons who laid down their lives in the defence of the homeland.

He also expressed heartfelt sympathy and condolences with the grieving families.

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PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “The imminent signing of the Islamabad accord marks a historic moment. At a time when the international spotlight is firmly on Pakistan, the ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is damaging both the Kashmiri cause and Pakistan’s reputation. It is also creating an unnecessary opportunity for hostile actors and the India-Israel nexus to exploit the situation for their own purposes.”

He said, “I therefore appeal to all protestors to bring their demonstrations to a peaceful conclusion. Those individuals who have taken the law into their own hands should surrender themselves to the local authorities and allow due process to take its course.”

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “All political grievances and disagreements must be resolved through democratic, constitutional, and peaceful means. Parliament and the political process—not the streets—are the appropriate forums for addressing and settling such issues.”

He said, “The Pakistan Peoples Party has already called upon the Election Commission to withdraw its premature election schedule. We remain committed to pursuing a political solution and would seek to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address outstanding grievances, move the process forward, and bring these matters to a just and lasting conclusion. The people of Kashmir should not have to endure repeated cycles of protest, confrontation, and uncertainty.”

The PPP Chairman further said, “If all stakeholders, including the Federal Government, are in agreement, the AJK Government could, in due course, review the notifications issued in relation to protesting parties. While there can be no compromise when it comes to upholding the rule of law and holding accountable those who have engaged in unlawful acts, we are equally committed to ensuring that individuals who have done nothing wrong are not made to suffer the consequences of the actions of others.”

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Today, on World Day Against Child Labour, Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its resolve to protect children from exploitation and to ensure that every child can grow up in safety and attend school.

The protection of children is rooted in the Constitution of Pakistan. Article 11 prohibits slavery, forced labour and the employment of children in hazardous work, while Article 25-A guarantees free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of five and sixteen years. These provisions define a clear responsibility for the State to safeguard childhood and support education.

Child labour has direct consequences for a child’s life and future. A child engaged in work is often forced to leave school or fall behind in learning. This limits opportunity, weakens skills development and places additional pressure on families already facing hardship. Ensuring that children remain in education is therefore not only a matter of protection, but also of long-term social and economic well-being.

Pakistan continues to take steps at federal and provincial levels to reduce child labour and strengthen child protection efforts. The focus remains on prevention, enforcement of existing laws and support for children who need to return to education and a stable environment.

On this day, I call upon parents, employers, teachers, religious leaders, civil society and all citizens to play their part in protecting children from exploitation and keeping them in school.

A society is judged by how it treats its children. Every child in Pakistan must have the opportunity to learn, to grow and to build a secure future.

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Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that children are not merely the future of the nation but its most precious trust, and that a society cannot claim progress while its children are deprived of their right to education, safety, and a carefree childhood. Calling for renewed national and global commitment to ending child labour, he stressed that every child deserves a life filled with learning, hope, dignity, and opportunity—not exploitation, deprivation, and burdens beyond their years.

According to the press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, the PPP Chairman, in his message on the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour, pointed out that the 1973 Constitution—the historic gift of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to the nation—prohibits slavery, forced labour, and the employment of children in hazardous occupations, while also guaranteeing free and compulsory education for all children between the ages of five and sixteen. He said these constitutional safeguards reflect the state’s responsibility to protect children and secure their future.

Reaffirming the Pakistan Peoples Party’s commitment to the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that she firmly believed that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, deserves an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to the nation’s progress.

The PPP Chairman urged governments, employers, civil society, and communities to work collectively to eradicate child labour in all its forms and create conditions in which every child can live with dignity, security, and hope. “Let us build a society where children are known not by the work they are forced to do, but by the dreams they are empowered to pursue,” he concluded.

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President Asif Ali Zardari with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

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Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians Secretary General Syed Nayyer Hussain Bukhari has congratulated the party’s winning candidates in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, saying the result reflects the public’s commitment to democracy and the legacy of the Bhutto family.

In a statement issued on Friday, Bukhari saluted the “Bhuttoist jiyalas” of Gilgit-Baltistan and thanked the region’s voters for supporting PPP candidates. He said the people had voted for a strong Pakistan and stable democracy.

“The conscious voters have ensured the victory of jiyala candidates for the sake of a strong Pakistan and stable democracy,” Bukhari said.

He noted that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s slogan of people’s rule had resonated widely with the public. According to Bukhari, the outreach campaign led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and the presence of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s legacy during the campaign evoked the spirit of Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

Bukhari said the PPP had emerged as the majority party in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly. He added that the party’s elected members would contribute to the region’s development through constitutional and public service.

“The people’s democratic government of the PPP in Gilgit-Baltistan will fulfill all promises related to health, education, housing, and employment,” he said.

Bukhari affirmed that under Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s leadership, the PPP remains committed to the manifesto, ideology, and principles of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto

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President Asif Ali Zardari has extended felicitations to the government and the people of the Kingdom of Sweden on their National Day.

​The President stated that Pakistan deeply values its long-standing and friendly relations with Sweden, established in 1949, which are built on a solid foundation of mutual respect and a shared commitment to international peace and cooperation.

​President Zardari expressed satisfaction with the steady progress of bilateral engagements, particularly in the fields of renewable energy, technology, telecommunications, textiles and agriculture as there is a vast potential to increase the bilateral trade volume. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening and expanding these mutually beneficial ties in the years ahead.

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Extending his greetings, the Chairman offered Deedar Mubarak to everyone present. He noted that while the people of Ghizer welcomed Prince Rahim Aga Khan to the region, the PPP leadership had the honor of receiving him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. He recalled that during the first government of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, they had the opportunity to welcome the father of the current Aga Khan, the late Prince Karim Agha Khan, to Karachi. Most recently, Prince Rahim Aga Khan was hosted by President Asif Ali Zardari, and First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari received him at the airport. The Chairman announced that Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s next visit will be to Karachi, where he will personally host him.
Chairman Bilawal recalled his extensive campaign across Gilgit-Baltistan during the last elections, noting that while the PPP had won the mandate, nine seats were unjustly snatched from the party. He asserted that this time, Insha Allah, the PPP will sweep all three seats in Ghizer. He added that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, and President Asif Ali Zardari all served the people of GB during their respective tenures, and now, God willing, that privilege would fall to him.
Highlighting the PPP’s historic contributions to the region, Chairman Bilawal noted that the wheat subsidy introduced by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto remains operational to this day. Furthermore, President Zardari gave GB its distinct identity, establishing the offices of the Governor and Chief Minister.
Chairman Bilawal stated that he wants to go to Islamabad and tell them that before making any other province, GB should be made the fifth province of Pakistan. The party aims to secure a constitution for GB so that the local population obtains the right to sovereignty and can fully exercise their right of ownership.
He reminded that the PPP facilitated the appointment of Shahbaz Sharif as Prime Minister twice. A promise has been fulfilled through the PPP parliamentary party in GB. He paid rich tribute to the PPP parliamentary party and the President of PPP GB, Amjad Sahib, for successfully presenting and passing the law in the assembly for the right of ownership.
Chairman Bilawal emphasized that he wants to implement this law, and for that, he requires a majority in Gilgit-Baltistan assembly. He pledged to fulfill his promise and hand over 28,000 square kilometers of land of GB to the people of GB. This is why the PPP needs a decisive victory, as he wants a Jiyala as the Chief Minister of GB to ensure the people truly become the owners of this land.
Drawing parallels with the party’s governance in other regions, he emphasized that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had originally empowered the poor through land ownership. Currently, in Sindh, the PPP is transferring land titles to 2 million women, marking the largest land reform initiative in the country’s history. He appealed to the people of GB to turn out in large numbers on June 7 to vote for the party by stamping the party’s symbol of the arrow, ensuring a PPP government. He also promised to launch a housing scheme modeled after the Sindh Peoples Housing Initiative. He promised to start this initiative from Ghizer.
Chairman Bilawal stated that the party’s third major pledge is the provision of employment. Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto created jobs within the country and abroad for the youth, while Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto declared that if providing jobs is a crime, she would commit this crime again and again.
He said that after the previous PPP government in GB, employment opportunities were taken away from the local people. Other political parties snatch jobs from the people. The PML-N terminated workers from various institutions and the PTI followed the exact same path. He maintained that once elected, the PPP’s mandate will be to provide merit-based employment to jobless youth of GB.
Chairman Bilawal shared that the PPP is integrating modern technology into governance by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Balochistan to ensure merit-based employment for the youth. As soon as the AI-driven test is completed, candidates will immediately know their grade. He stated that if this pilot project proves successful, the party will introduce it in Sindh and also in GB.
Chairman Bilawal emphasized that the PPP stands as a party of a clear ideology and manifesto, whereas opposing parties possess none of them. He highlighted that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is according to the PPP’s ideology. He appealed to the people to come out on the Election Day and Stamp arrow, the PPP’s election symbol.

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Chilas, Diamer (3 June 2026): Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, while addressing a massive election rally in Chilas Tehsil of Diamer district on Wednesday, said that today he has once again come to Diamer. He had also visited during the previous elections. He said that in the last elections, nine seats were taken away from the PPP. He thanked the public for the warm welcome and said that circumstances have now changed. Some people are pursuing anti-poor politics and manifestos, but the Pakistan Peoples Party looks only towards the people, and God willing, with the strength of the people, they will demonstrate their power in Gilgit-Baltistan and elect a Jiyala Prime Minister.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “Stamp the arrow and I will form a government for you.” He said their bond spans three generations and will always remain. By supporting Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the people changed their destiny and the FCR system was abolished. He said Quaid-e-Awam was the representative of the deprived classes of the country. He made people owners of land, provided employment opportunities, and brought economic progress. When Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was martyred, dictatorial forces believed that the workers, peasants, and youth of Gilgit-Baltistan would become orphaned. But this was their mistake, and an unarmed young woman struggled for 30 years. He recalled the famous slogan about Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto: “Benazir Aye Gi, Rozgar Laye Gi”. Conspirators martyred her, but President Zardari carried forward the flag of that struggle. Through the 18th Amendment, he restored the 1973 Constitution. President Zardari implemented the vision of “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan” through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). He said they would increase BISP allocations in the next budget. He added that President Zardari laid the foundation of CPEC and by opening Gawadar to China, created pathways for economic development. Today, whatever development is taking place is because of President Zardari’s 18th Amendment and the NFC Award. He also said that President Zardari gave Gilgit-Baltistan its name and identity.

He said that the Diamer-Bhasha Dam was not completed because in 2013, President Zardari’s government was not allowed to return due to what he described as “NRO elections.” He said work on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam had begun during President Zardari’s first tenure, and had his government continued, the dam would have already been completed. He pledged that after forming the government in Gilgit-Baltistan, they would solve the people’s problems. He demanded that the PSDP should prioritize work on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam. Referring to India, he said India is committing “water terrorism,” making the dam even more important. He remarked that if Shehbaz Sharif had worked in Lahore with “Shehbaz Speed,” then he should now demonstrate the same speed for this dam.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that if Pakistan today is the only nuclear power in the Muslim world, it is because of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who had announced in Gilgit-Baltistan that Pakistan would become a nuclear power. He said that after the atomic bomb, missile technology was achieved under Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, calling it her gift. Today, Pakistan’s defense is strong because of her contributions.

He further stated that during the rule of a dictator, permission was granted for foreign military bases on Pakistani soil. After Mian Sahib and Musharraf, President Zardari came to power and shut down all those military bases. Referring to the Iran war, he said oppression is taking place there. He said they had closed military bases and no one has the right to claim to have said. “Absolutely Not.” Chairman Bilawal said that former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger had threatened Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, but he sacrificed his life and secured the nuclear program for Pakistan. He added that today the entire region is facing a war-like environment, and the country needs a PPP government that can look the world in the eye and speak confidently. He said the PPP never compromises on the rights of the people.

He said that two years after the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, the PPP would win elections in Pakistan and form the federal government. He noted that the PPP gave Pakistan the 1973 Constitution and would now also ensure a constitution and constitutional protection for Gilgit-Baltistan. The PPP would guarantee the rights of governance, ownership, and employment. He said that first Benazir Bhutto became the chain linking the four provinces, and now she would become the chain linking all five provinces.

He said the Constitution states that the first right over a province’s resources belongs to the people of that province, and they would make Islamabad understand this principle. He said that in Tharparkar, they generated electricity from coal, and similarly in Gilgit-Baltistan they would produce electricity through public-private partnerships to meet both local and national needs.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that just as Sindh currently has the world’s largest housing project, they would introduce a similar project in Gilgit-Baltistan. The people would also be made owners of the land on which these homes are built, just as was done in Sindh. He said these houses were designed to withstand climate change. He further stated that throughout Sindh, world-class medical institutions have been established where treatment for heart, liver, kidney diseases, and cancer is available, with medicines also provided free of cost. These institutions provide free treatment to people from all over Pakistan, in accordance with Quaid-e-Awam’s vision of “Roti, Kapra aur Makaan.” He promised that after forming the PPP government in Gilgit-Baltistan on 7 June, similar healthcare institutions would also be established there.

Chairman Bilawal said the PPP government would transform the destiny of Gilgit-Baltistan. He said the elders had already struggled, and now it was the responsibility of the youth to continue that struggle. “We do not complain; we are the ones who raise the slogan of ‘Pakistan Khappay,’” he said, adding that together they would solve all problems. He urged the people to elect PPP representatives in Diamer so that their problems could be solved at every level.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that after 7 June, development would take place in Diamer. He urged the people of Astore-2 to elect Mousavi Sahib, the people of Diamer to send Bashir Sahib to the assembly, and the voters of Diamer-2 to ensure the victory of Attaullah Shah. He said Muhammad Naseem is his candidate from Diamer-3 and must also be elected.

He added that currently, only the PPP election camps in Gilgit-Baltistan are full of enthusiasm, while all others appear worried. He said the candidates of the federal government are roaming around disappointed. “They are our friends, but they are going to  lose,” he remarked. He further said that some parties may have money, but their camps remain silent because they do not understand that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are honorable people who cannot be bought. “On 7 June, only the Arrow will prevail,” he concluded.

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President Asif Ali Zardari has extended felicitations to the President of the Italian Republic, Mr Sergio Mattarella, and the people of Italy on Republic Day.

​The President said that Pakistan deeply values its long-standing and friendly relations with Italy, which are marked by mutual trust, cooperation and a shared commitment to peace and prosperity. He expressed confidence that bilateral ties between the two nations will continue to grow in strength and substance in the years ahead.

​President Zardari stated that Pakistan attaches great importance to its engagement with the European Union (EU) and highly values Italy’s constructive role within the EU in promoting cooperation, dialogue and international peace and stability. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-EU relations in areas of mutual interest.

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