Jammu, July 25: In a major development that can “influence” the electoral process in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has received a petition seeking “de-freezing” of eight of the 24 Assembly seats reserved for the Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir or POJK.
Top sources said the refugees from the POJK have written to Home Minister, Amit Shah seeking “de-freezing” of eight seats in the J&K assembly meant to be allotted to districts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan continues to illegally occupy 24 areas like Muzaffarabad while their seats in the JK Assembly remain vacant.
The Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir is composed of 111 members elected directly from territorial seats inside the Union Territory. But the elections would be held only for 87 seats.
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The sources said SoS International, a “rights group”, has petitioned the Union Home Ministry. The petition, as per the sources, says that the “de-freezing would end pain and agony of over one million refugees from POJK now settled in India.”
The sources said the petitioners want that their demand be met before the holding of much-awaited Assembly elections in the Union Territory of JK.
The Union Government on July 22 said that the delimitation exercise has been completed in Jammu and Kashmir while the matter is presently sub-judice as the final report has been challenged in the Supreme Court, while minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question said that the delimitation commission has completed, the delimitation exercise relating to re-adjustment of Parliamentary and Legislative Assembly constituencies in respect of the J&K and notified two orders dated 14th March, 2022 and 5th May, 2022 in the Gazette of India.
“The Commission’s said Orders have been made effective w.e.f. 20th May, 2022 vide notification of the Government of India number S.O. 2223(E), dated 20th May, 2022,” he said.
He added that a Writ Petition (C) bearing No. 237/2022 has been filed by Hazi Abdul Gani Khan in the Supreme Court, challenging the constitution of the delimitation commission and presently, the matter is sub-judice in the Supreme Court.
