MUZAFFARABAD: Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has strongly rejected a demand by the banned Action Committee to abolish seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said the voting rights of millions of Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan are their constitutional and democratic rights, which cannot be ignored.
He maintained that the rights of Kashmiri refugees are an integral part of the collective rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and deserve equal respect and protection.
According to Mirwaiz, the success of the Kashmiri struggle depends on ensuring equal representation of the rights of people from all parts of Jammu and Kashmir without discrimination.
He stressed that the constitutional and democratic rights of one group should not be overlooked in the name of protecting the interests of another. Equality, justice and mutual respect, he said, are essential for safeguarding collective rights.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called on all stakeholders to sit together and resolve the issue through consultation and dialogue. He urged them to work towards a balanced, broadly acceptable solution that protects the rights of all sides.
His remarks come amid growing controversy over the status and political representation of Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan.
