Islamabad:
Federal Minister for Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Amir Muqam, said Thursday that the government had accepted most of the requests presented by the joint action committee (Jac) at Azad Cashmire, following a 14-hour marathon negotiation session in Muzaffarabad.
Addressing journalists, Muqam said that he had visited Muzaffarabad on the special instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to engage directly with the stakeholders during the Call of September 29 of the Jac. Federal Minister, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, accompanied him during the discussions.
The talks started the other day at 3 p.m. and continued until 5 a.m. the next morning, involving successive towers with a ministerial committee of the government of cashmere, the representatives of the Jac, and later senior officials, in particular the chief secretary and the general inspector.
“Most of the requests that were within the constitutional and legal limits and concerned the well -being of the cashmere people – whether linked to the federal government or to the Government of Kashmir – have been accepted,” confirmed Muqam.
The Minister stressed that the federal government already extended significant subsidies to the region, including electricity to Rs3 per unit and flour per kilogram. He recalled that last year, the Prime Minister allocated RS23 billion as a special subsidy for subsidies, in addition to a 100% increase in the development budget of the Azad Cashmere.
However, Muqam criticized the JAC for having presented what he called “illegal requests” towards the end of the talks, in particular the proposal to abolish 12 legislative seats reserved for the refugees of the Indian-A occupied Jammu and the cashmere (iiojk).
“Such a decision would send a dangerous message – that we do not know the status and sacrifices of our brothers and sisters through the control line,” said Muqam, stressing that constitutional changes could only be continued by elections and legislative processes.
He also expressed his regret that certain elements were pursuing disruptive agendas at a time when, after increased tensions with India, the cause of cashmere had received renewed attention internationally.
“It plays directly in the hands of India,” said Muqam. “But let me specify: any request that truly benefits the Kashmir people will receive total support from federal governments and cashmere.”
He reaffirmed that the doors of the dialogue have remained open, promising to continue efforts to resolve disputes by consensus.
