RAWALPINDI: PML-N central leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique urged the Azad Kashmir Action Committee to engage in negotiations on Tuesday, asserting that dialogue remains the sole viable path to resolving the ongoing impasse.
“A handful of individuals have disrupted Kashmir’s peace under the guise of protest, yet despite the excesses, I remain a proponent of talks as a political worker,” Rafique stated. “Dialogue is the only solution to the current crisis in Azad Kashmir, but an invitation to negotiate must not be misconstrued as a license to shut down cities.”
He made these remarks while addressing an election rally at Haji House in Dhoke Ratta. The event was also addressed by Senator Nasir Butt, MNAs Malik Abrar and Tahira Aurangzeb, and election candidates Yasin Kon and Raja Mohammad Siddique.
Rafique commended the large turnout at the gathering despite scorching temperatures. “This is a stronghold of Kashmiris. We are Kashmiris in a state of anguish, yet some refuse to acknowledge our identity,” he said.
He noted that many Kashmiris migrated to Pakistan during the country’s formation and in subsequent waves, emphasizing that all retain the right to vote. He vowed that the parliamentary seats allocated for Kashmiris in Pakistan would not be reduced.
Reiterating his stance, Rafique added, “Issues must be resolved through talks, but the offer of dialogue does not imply that cities should be shuttered.”
He claimed the PML-N remains the most popular party in Kashmir, dismissing rival groups as lacking public support. He lauded the armed forces for their sacrifices in defending the borders and Kashmir, asserting that the nation stands united with the military. “People will turn out in large numbers on July 27 because Kashmiris love Pakistan,” he declared.
Other speakers highlighted that Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan cast ballots in two separate elections, forming PML-N governments in both. They described Rawalpindi as a fortress for Nawaz Sharif, predicting the upcoming vote would confirm this allegiance.
With the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections scheduled for July 27, the PML-N has launched its campaign in Rawalpindi for the refugee seats. The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad comprise two constituencies: voters in Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation wards 1 to 14 (as they existed in 1985) and Rawalpindi Cantonment wards 1 to 10 will vote for the Kashmir Valley-4 seat, while voters in Rawalpindi district outside RMC limits, the Islamabad Capital Territory, and Attock district will cast ballots for the Kashmir Valley-5 seat.