Khawaja Asif Calls Demand to Abolish Refugee Seats in AJK Before Elections an Attempt to Undermine Democratic Process

Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticized calls to abolish the 12 reserved refugee seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly ahead of the upcoming elections, describing the demand as an attempt to sabotage the electoral process.

Speaking on the issue, Khawaja Asif noted that AJK elections are scheduled to be held on July 27 and said that the Joint Awami Action Committee is demanding the elimination of the 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan.

He argued that raising such a demand immediately before the elections was inappropriate and amounted to undermining the democratic process.

“The people making this demand should present it before the electorate on July 27. That would be a democratic approach; otherwise, it would be viewed as political blackmail,” the minister said.

Khawaja Asif explained that one AJK Assembly constituency is based in Sialkot city and its surrounding tehsil, while Kashmiri refugee constituencies are spread across different parts of Pakistan. He noted that a large number of Kashmiri refugees, particularly those originating from Jammu, are represented through these seats.

The defence minister recalled the migration of refugees during the events of October 1947, stating that more than 200,000 people sacrificed their lives and were displaced before settling in areas such as Sialkot.

“You cannot deprive these refugees of their rights,” he said, urging those advocating constitutional or electoral changes to pursue their objectives through democratic means rather than pressure tactics.

The remarks come amid growing political debate in Azad Kashmir over the future of refugee representation and electoral reforms ahead of the upcoming legislative assembly elections.