ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that no movement can separate refugees from Kashmir.
He said all voters in the 12 constituencies of Azad Kashmir belong to Kashmir. “These people left their homes to get freedom from Indian subjugation and for the sake of Pakistan. This connection could absolutely not be severed abruptly as a result of any movement,” he said.
He was of the view that legal and constitutional points should be discussed calmly. “We should carefully consider and discuss constitutional and legal points and find solutions.”
Commenting on the refugees, Tarar said, Pakistan welcomes these people as guests, and their connection with Kashmir cannot be severed.
Commenting on the 12 refugee seats, the Law Minister said that this requires a comprehensive constitutional package and political consensus.
All Kashmiri leadership should be included in this consensus. Discussions should also be held with their representatives as, he added this is a very big decision and consensus is so important.
He said that people might also object as to why elected representatives are not doing this work, or why this work is being done in haste.
Constitutional amendments and decisions on fundamental rights should not be made in such haste. There are many legal intricacies and constitutional issues involved, he said.
Kashmir constitution
Tarar further said that as far as he remembers, there is no referendum clause in the Kashmir constitution. “If this is done in haste, I don’t think it will be constitutionally, legally, politically, and socially correct. The things done in haste will harm our Kashmir cause.”
