Shehbaz Sharif has rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call for a referendum on Kashmir.

Shehbaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has rejected Prime Minister Imran Khan’s plan to conduct a referendum on Kashmir to determine if Kashmiris want to remain with Pakistan or as an independent nation.

In a statement released today, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly criticised Prime Minister Imran Khan Niazi, stating that by suggesting a referendum, he is departing from Pakistan’s historical and constitutional stance.

“Anything other than Pakistan’s historic stand on the Jammu and Kashmir conflict and UN Security Council resolutions is rejected by the whole country,” Shehbaz stated in a scathing rebuttal to PM Khan’s remarks at AJK rallies.

On Friday, the Prime Minister told the people of Kashmir that his administration would organise a referendum in which they could choose whether to join Pakistan or become an independent state while speaking at an electoral rally in Tarar Khal.

I want to be clear: in 1948, the United Nations Security Council passed two resolutions granting the people of Kashmir the right to chose their own fate. People must determine whether they wish to join Hindustan or Pakistan, according to UN resolutions “the prime minister had stated.

“Today, I’d want to explain something for all of you. InshaAllah, a day will come when the people of Kashmir’s sacrifices will not be in vain. That right will be granted to you by God. InshaAllah, there will be a referendum.”

Imran Niazi’s remark, according to Shehbaz, has shown the issues that have already been brought to the nation’s attention with the Indian measures of August 5, 2019.

“The Jammu and Kashmir conflict will be resolved by a transparent and independent plebiscite held under the auspices of the United Nations, and this is the people of Pakistan and Kashmir’s stance.”

Imposing a solution on Kashmiris without their agreement and consultation, according to the PML-N president, is equivalent to aiding India and abandoning the Kashmir cause.