Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday alleged that a foreign-funded organisation is attempting to exert pressure on authorities regarding migrant seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He stressed that decisions on the matter should be taken by local residents and the migrant community.
National Assembly Statement
Speaking in the National Assembly, the minister referred to ongoing tensions between the regional administration and the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) over demands to abolish 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees who migrated to Pakistan after 1947. He urged the group to raise the issue during the upcoming AJK elections scheduled for July 27, instead of attempting to resolve it beforehand. He questioned whether such efforts were aimed at influencing the composition of the assembly in line with a particular agenda.
Defence of Migrant Rights
Khawaja Asif said Kashmiri refugees who settled in Pakistan had made significant sacrifices and could not be deprived of their constitutional and electoral rights, adding that any attempt to remove their voting rights would be unjust. He further stated that the current administrative structure of AJK exists due to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces and citizens across the country, describing the region as being of national significance for all 250 million Pakistanis.
Terrorism and Afghan Refugees
The minister also said terrorism-related issues involving Afghanistan should not be politicised or used for political point-scoring. He noted that Pakistan had hosted Afghan refugees for four decades and engaged in multiple rounds of dialogue with Kabul, including through mediation efforts by Qatar and Türkiye, though without conclusive results.
Diplomatic Success
Khawaja Asif added that Pakistan had achieved a major diplomatic success in recent international developments and agreements involving Iran and the United States, saying this had enhanced the country’s global standing. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, stating that their leadership had delivered outcomes that once seemed impossible.
