An All Parties Conference (APC) on Wednesday unanimously rejected the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) demand for the abolition of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, saying that any such decision can only be taken by the elected representatives in the House.
The conference – convened in Muzaffarabad – lasted for more than six hours. It was attended by political and religious parties of the region, except for the PTI and JAAC leadership, which boycotted the session despite having been invited.
The APC met to formulate a joint strategy and position on the demands of the JAAC, including the abolition of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. It unanimously rejected the “top-most demand” saying that any such decision can only be taken by the elected representatives in the Assembly.
Later, a joint statement was read out by Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore before the media persons.
Rathore said the moot deliberated the issue in detail and decided, in the larger public interest and in the interest of the Kashmir liberation movement, not to support such an action without due legislative process through the elected representatives of the people.
He said the JAAC leadership was invited to the conference to be convinced on a framework for the fulfilment of their demands, but they stayed away, saying they had already decided to launch an agitation even if all their demands, including this one, were met.
However, he said that the authorities would not use force against peaceful protesters and would provide them with cold water and other facilities amid the hot weather conditions.
He said most of the JAAC’s demands had already been met and that they were requested to postpone their June 9 protest to allow meaningful deliberations in legal committees on sensitive issues such as refugee seats, but they rejected the request and refused to delay their announcement even by a day.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneOur CorrespondentRead More
