MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has approached the AJK Supreme Court through a constitutional reference, requesting legal guidance on the status of refugee-reserved seats in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
According to government spokesperson Shaukat Javed Mir, the reference was submitted on the instructions of Faisal Mumtaz Rathore to seek the court’s opinion on whether the refugee seats should continue in their current form, be abolished, or be retained as symbolic representation for refugees from the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region.
The issue of the 12 refugee-reserved seats has long been a subject of political discussion in AJK. Supporters maintain that these seats reflect the historical circumstances of displaced communities and represent a constitutional commitment to their political participation. Critics, however, contend that legislative representation should be determined by territorial boundaries and argue that decisions regarding AJK’s governance should primarily rest with those residing within the region.
The Supreme Court’s opinion is expected to provide clarity on a matter that has remained central to political and constitutional debates in Azad Kashmir.
