Political storm in PoJK: Ministers quit, accuse PM of neglecting Kashmiri refugees

Muzaffarabad (PoJK):  A political crisis has erupted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) as three senior ministers in Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq’s cabinet have tendered their resignations, citing the PM’s failure to protect the rights of both the region’s residents and over 2.5 million Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan.

Information Minister Pir Mazhar Saeed was the first to resign, followed by Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan, Food Minister Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim, and Minister Asim Sharif Bhat, according to The Express Tribune.

The ministers accused Haq of disregarding constitutional and political rights and called for his resignation, alleging he had lost both moral and political legitimacy. They expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s handling of recent unrest and its indifference toward the representation of Kashmiri refugees in PoJK’s legislative structure.

Abdul Majid Khan, in his resignation letter, reaffirmed his loyalty to the ideology of accession to Pakistan and defended the political rights of Kashmiri refugees. He sharply criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Action Committee (JAAC) for seeking the abolition of 12 reserved legislative seats for refugees, calling the JAAC-federal deal illegitimate and divisive.

Food Minister Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim echoed these concerns, stating that refugees are not “mere political numbers” but patriotic Pakistanis who have suffered decades of separation. He claimed that under Haq’s leadership, it had become “impossible to continue serving.”

Both ministers have petitioned President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Army Chief General Asim Munir to intervene, warning that over 2.5 million displaced Kashmiris feel increasingly alienated and demand restoration of their rightful representation within PoJK’s political framework.

The resignations mark one of the most significant political upheavals in PoJK in recent years. Ministers voiced deep concern over the Haq government’s inability to address the long-standing issues of Kashmiri refugees, including representation in the PoJK Legislative Assembly and protection of their constitutional rights.

Abdul Majid Khan emphasised that the rights of thousands of displaced Kashmiris were being undermined by agreements made without proper consensus, while Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim highlighted the emotional and political cost to the refugee community.

The ministers’ letters to top Pakistani leadership underline the gravity of the situation, signalling a demand for federal intervention to restore political balance and uphold the rights of refugees. Analysts suggest this could escalate tensions within PoJK’s political circles, with potential repercussions for PM Haq’s administration if the central government chooses to act.
(With ANI inputs)