New AJK assembly to decide fate of refugee seats: PPP

The future of refugee seats in the Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will be determined by the newly elected assembly itself, stated former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf. He emphasized that the issue is constitutional in nature and falls under the purview of the upcoming AJK legislative body.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Ashraf, who also serves as the PPP central Punjab president, voiced strong confidence in his party's prospects for the upcoming AJK elections. He asserted that only transparent and fair elections could effectively resolve the region's challenges. He also announced that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is scheduled to visit the region soon.

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Kashmir was Pakistan’s jugular vein and recalled that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had always forcefully presented Pakistan’s position on the issue.

Ashraf reiterated the PPP's commitment to peaceful political engagement and highlighted the current need for broad political dialogue involving all stakeholders. He underscored the historical ties of the PPP leadership, including Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and President Asif Ali Zardari, to Kashmir, affirming the party's unwavering stance on the Kashmir issue. He positioned the PPP as the true representative party of the AJK people, suggesting no external validation is necessary.

In a strong warning directed at India, Ashraf declared that Pakistan would defend its water resources unequivocally. He cautioned that any attempt by India to impede the flow of water to Pakistan would result in India having to "pay a heavy price." He characterized water as the nation's lifeline, asserting that its access cannot be compromised under any circumstances. Ashraf criticized India's position on the Indus Waters Treaty, alleging that New Delhi was attempting to unilaterally halt Pakistan's water share without legal authority and that the International Court of Justice had rejected such claims. He accused India of seeking retribution for its May 10 electoral defeat by attempting to destabilize Pakistan.

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Pakistan will protect its water resources at all costs, warning that if India attempts to stop Islamabad’s water, it will have to “pay a heavy price” because water is the country’s lifeline and cannot be stopped under any circumstances.