AJK unrest deepens as Khawaja Asif defends refugee seats, urges JAAC to seek public mandate

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday strongly defended the 12 seats reserved in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, urging the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to take the issue to the people through the democratic process instead of pursuing agitation.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Asif said the question of abolishing the refugee seats should be decided by the people in the upcoming AJK elections scheduled for July 27. He questioned why the group was seeking to settle the issue outside the electoral process, suggesting that such efforts appeared aimed at shaping the assembly according to its own preferences.

The defence minister said Kashmiri refugees who migrated to Pakistan after 1947 had made immense sacrifices and had every right to political representation.

“Kashmiri refugees paid a heavy price when they migrated to Pakistan. No one has the right to deprive them of their vote or representation,” he said.

Asif stressed that the cause of Kashmir was not limited to the people of the region alone, noting that millions of Pakistanis had contributed to and sacrificed for the Kashmir issue over the decades.

“The Azad Kashmir we see today exists because of the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces and people from across the country,” he remarked, adding that every Pakistani family had a connection to the Kashmir cause.

The minister cautioned against taking the law into one’s own hands, warning that the state could not remain silent in the face of disorder and unrest.

He said issues related to refugee representation should be debated and resolved within the Legislative Assembly rather than through protests and confrontation.

Recalling the challenges faced by Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan, Asif said many had long struggled to secure basic services due to unresolved legal status issues, which were later addressed through government efforts.

“How can anyone exclude these refugees from the democratic process and deny them their identity?” he asked.

Meanwhile, tensions remained high across AJK as supporters and activists of the proscribed JAAC continued their protest movement towards Muzaffarabad.

Reports indicated that protesters from several districts, including Mirpur, Kotli, Bhimber, Poonch, Sudhnoti and Bagh, had gathered at various locations around Rawalakot despite road blockades and heightened security measures.

A complete shutdown was observed in Rawalakot and other areas on Wednesday, with public transport suspended and businesses largely closed. Authorities maintained heavy security deployments to prevent protesters from entering sensitive locations.

According to official sources, JAAC leader Umar Nazir Kashmiri reportedly submitted a six-point proposal to authorities aimed at easing tensions. The demands included the withdrawal of the notification declaring JAAC a proscribed organisation, removal of movement restrictions, review of cases registered against protesters, and the initiation of negotiations.

Government officials said the proposal also called for both protesters and law enforcement agencies to maintain their positions until a decision was reached. However, no JAAC representative was available to confirm the development.

The situation remains tense as authorities and protest leaders continue efforts to prevent further escalation.