Saad Rafique urges talks to defuse Azad Kashmir standoff

RAWALPINDI: PML-N leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique on Tuesday said dialogue was the only way to address the ongoing situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, while urging the Azad Kashmir Action Committee to engage in talks.

Speaking at an election gathering at Haji House in Dhoke Ratta, he said the current crisis in AJK should be resolved through negotiations, but added that an offer of talks should not result in the closure of cities. He said a small number of people had disrupted peace in Kashmir in the name of protest, but maintained that he supported negotiations despite what he described as atrocities.

“A few people destroyed the peace of Kashmir in the name of protest, but despite all atrocities, as a political activist, I am in favour of talks. The only solution to the current crisis in Azad Kashmir is dialogue, but this does not mean that cities should be closed on the offer of talks,” Rafique said.

He also praised the turnout at the gathering despite the heat and described the area as a stronghold of Kashmiris. He said many Kashmiris had moved to Pakistan at the time of the country’s creation while others arrived later, but all of them were Kashmiris and had the right to vote. He also said the seats allocated to Kashmiris in Pakistan could not be reduced.

“I will say that the problems should be solved through talks, but the offer of sitting and talking does not mean that the cities should be closed,” he said referring again to the issue of negotiations.

Mr Rafique said the PML-N enjoyed public support in Kashmir and claimed that while another party was also active in the political field, it did not enjoy similar popularity. He also said the army had made sacrifices for the defence of the borders and Kashmir, adding that the nation stood with the armed forces.

“People will come out in large numbers on July 27 because Kashmiris love Pakistan,” he further said.

The event was also addressed by Senator Nasir Butt, MNAs Malik Abrar and Tahira Aurangzeb, and election candidates Yasin Kon and Raja Mohammad Siddique, among others. Other speakers said Kashmiris living in Pakistan cast votes in two places and played a role in forming two PML-N governments. They also described Rawalpindi as Nawaz Sharif’s political stronghold and said the election would demonstrate that.

AJK refugee seats in Rawalpindi and Islamabad

For the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, the PML-N has started its campaign in Rawalpindi for refugee seats. There are two such seats in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Voters in ward numbers 1 to 14 within the limits of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation as those limits stood in 1985, along with Rawalpindi Cantonment wards 1 to 10, will vote for the Kashmir Valley-4 seat. Voters in the areas of Rawalpindi district outside the RMC limits, Islamabad Capital Territory and Attock district will cast ballots for the Kashmir Valley-5 seat.