Multi-party conference rejects JAAC demand on AJK refugee seats

MUZAFFARABAD: An All Parties Conference in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday unanimously turned down the Joint Awami Action Committee’s demand to scrap refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, saying any such move could only be made through the elected house.

The conference, held in Muzaffarabad, continued for more than six hours and brought together political and religious parties from the region. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the JAAC leadership did not attend despite being invited to the meeting.

The gathering was convened to develop a common position on the JAAC’s demands, including its call for the abolition of refugee seats in the assembly. Participants unanimously rejected what was described as the committee’s principal demand, maintaining that the matter must be decided through a legislative process by elected representatives.

Joint statement after meeting

Speaking to reporters after the conference, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore read out a joint declaration. He said the participants had discussed the issue in detail and concluded that, in the wider public interest and in the interest of the Kashmir liberation movement, they would not support any such step outside the constitutional and legislative process.

Rathore said the JAAC leadership had been invited so they could be persuaded on a framework for addressing their demands, but they stayed away from the conference. According to him, they had already decided to proceed with agitation even if all of their demands, including this one, were accepted.

He added that the government would not use force against peaceful demonstrators. Rathore said the authorities would instead make arrangements to provide cold water and other facilities to protesters in view of the hot weather.

Government says most demands already met

The prime minister said most of the JAAC’s demands had already been accepted. He added that the committee had been asked to defer its June 9 protest so legal committees could hold meaningful discussions on sensitive questions such as refugee seats, but the request was declined.

According to Rathore, the JAAC leadership did not agree to postpone its protest call even for a single day. The conference’s position means the issue of refugee seats will remain tied to legislative deliberation in the AJK Assembly rather than being settled through pressure from the street.