MUZAFFARABAD: An All Parties Conference (APC) on Wednesday unanimously rejected the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) demand for the abolition of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, asserting that any such decision can only be made by the elected representatives in the House. The conference, convened in Muzaffarabad, lasted more than six hours and was attended by political and religious parties from the region, except for the PTI and JAAC leadership, which boycotted the session despite invitations. The APC aimed to formulate a joint strategy and position on the JAAC's demands, including the abolition of refugee seats. It unanimously rejected this "top-most demand," emphasizing that only elected representatives in the Assembly have the authority to decide on such matters. Subsequently, Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore read a joint statement to the media. Rathore stated that the moot deliberated the issue in detail and decided, in the larger public interest and for the Kashmir liberation movement, not to support such action without due legislative process through elected representatives. He noted that the JAAC leadership was invited to the conference to discuss a framework for fulfilling their demands, but they stayed away, having already decided to launch an agitation even if all demands, including this one, were met. Rathore added that authorities would not use force against peaceful protesters and would provide cold water and other facilities amid hot weather. He said most JAAC demands had already been met, and they were requested to postpone their June 9 protest to allow meaningful deliberations in legal committees on sensitive issues like refugee seats, but they rejected the request and refused to delay their announcement even by a day.
