MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The hearing of a reference regarding the twelve refugee seats has begun in the Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir.
The reference is being heard by a two-member bench headed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Saeed Akram Raja and including Justice Khalid Rashid Chaudhry.
The Azad Kashmir government had filed a reference yesterday seeking the opinion of the Supreme Court. This usually relates to constitutional and legal issues such as the distribution of electoral seats, the quota system, or the representation of refugees.
In such hearings, the court sees whether the current distribution of seats is in accordance with the constitution and law, and whether it needs any amendment or clarification.
How do “refugee seats” work in the context of Pakistan/Azad Kashmir, and what kind of case could this be?. Earlier, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution related to the matter of refugee seats, which was earlier adopted by the All Parties Conference (APC).
The resolution was presented by Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed Advocate, government ministers Chaudhry Qasim Majeed, Sardar Javed Ayub, Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar, and Nabila Ayub during the session, chaired by Chaudhry Latif Akbar.
According to details, a total of nine resolutions were presented before the House and received unanimous approval from lawmakers.
The assembly ratified the APC’s recommendations regarding refugee seats and expressed its support for pursuing the matter through appropriate legal, constitutional, and political channels.
The resolution adopted during the All-Party Conference (APC) on Wednesday stated that all political parties have agreed that the matter related to the abolition of 12 Legislative Assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan should be taken up in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
The resolution stated that constitutional reforms are the exclusive authority and mandate of the elected representatives of the people; therefore, the matter of such reforms should be left to the Legislative Assembly.
It added that a consultative process should be initiated in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including political parties, bar associations, the Bar Council, civil society, and constitutional experts.
The resolution further reiterated that the elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly will be held on time as per the constitution and law.
“All necessary administrative, legal, and security measures will be ensured for free, transparent, fair, and peaceful elections so that the people can exercise their right to vote without any pressure or hindrance,” the resolution reads.
The political and religious parties agreed that any attempt to obstruct or sabotage the electoral process will be strictly prohibited in accordance with the law.
Speaking during the session on the matter of refugee seats, Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has said that all political parties participated in the recent All Parties Conference (APC).
“The Action Committee was also invited to the conference to express its opinion on the issue, and matters can be taken forward through mutual consultation,” Rathore said.
The premier further stated that different political parties may have their own positions regarding the procedure for refugees.
“However, a joint resolution was presented in the All-Parties Conference after mutual consultation, on which all participants agreed.”
