Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has stated that the primary objective behind the recent protest call is to halt the upcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Speaking during a session of the National Assembly, he questioned the logic of trying to disrupt an entire electoral process through sit-ins and public gatherings, noting that the ongoing protest is isolated to Rawalakot.
According to the PM’s advisor, the banned Action Committee is demanding the abolition of the 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees, using this demand as a pretext to launch a march or “attack” on Muzaffarabad. He clarified that any decision regarding these seats falls strictly under the legal and constitutional jurisdiction of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Sanaullah added that the committee refused to participate in an All Parties Conference (APC) and rejected several alternative options, choosing instead to enforce its demands through “jatha culture” (mob tactics).
Defending the constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir refugees, Sanaullah asserted that stripping them of their voting rights would be a complete deviation from the core objectives of the independence movement. He explained that a six-member committee had already been established to evaluate the legal complexities of the refugee seats and present formal recommendations directly to the AJK government.
The PML-N leader also reminded the house of the government’s previous efforts to accommodate the group, noting that the committee had resorted to arson and encirclement a year ago over electricity prices. He highlighted that the federal government held successful negotiations in Muzaffarabad last year, accepting all 38 of their initial demands. This included providing a Rs 10 billion subsidy to adjust electricity tariffs, ensuring power is supplied at just Rs 3.5 per unit in AJK compared to the rest of Pakistan, alongside substantial subsidies on.
