Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday told the Senate the government cannot abolish the refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, as demanded by protesters in the region.
Responding to a point of order in the Upper House, he emphasized that the seats cannot be abolished through an executive order. He maintained that all political parties in the disputed region, its Parliament and other constitutional fora supported retaining refugee representation within the constitutional framework.
Sanaullah emphasized the government had accepted 37 of the 38 demands put forward by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). “The government remained engaged with JAAC for several months,” he noted, adding a written agreement was signed after negotiations on 37 demands. “The sole outstanding demand concerns refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly and involves constitutional and legal complexities,” he said.
Recalling the history of the JAAC, the adviser to the prime minister said it had initially emerged in 2023 with demands relating to electricity tariffs and wheat subsidies. He said the government had addressed these concerns by subsidizing electricity to the tune of Rs. 4/unit, as well as providing subsidized wheat and a Rs. 23 billion relief package. He linked the current unrest with attempts from “certain elements” to create instability ahead of the July elections in AJK.
“They knew the polls are due before Aug. 4 and gave a call for protest on June 9 back in January,” he said, adding peace and stability in AJK would be maintained in accordance with law.
Also on Wednesday, opposition senators alleged “rigging” in the Gilgit-Baltistan general elections. Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Abbas Nasir claimed the contested results would have “dangerous” consequences, seeking to link the situation to the unrest in AJK.
The House also unanimously passed five bills: the Motion Pictures (Amendment) Bill, the Travel Agencies (Amendment) Bill, the Pakistan Tourist Guides (Amendment) Bill, the Pakistan Hotels and Restaurants (Amendment) Bill, and the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) (Repeal) Bill.