ISLAMABAD: A political storm erupted in National Assembly on Wednesday after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks questioning the identity of residents of Rawalakot drew sharp criticism from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, amid rising tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) over disputed refugee seats.
The situation comes as protests continue in AJK under the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has been opposing the allocation of 12 legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees who migrated to Pakistan following the 1947 and 1965 conflicts and are now settled across the country.
Speaking on the floor of the House, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged restraint from all sides, warning that inflammatory political statements were worsening an already volatile situation in AJK.
He cautioned that emotional exchanges by both government and political leaders risked deepening instability and undermining efforts toward dialogue.
Rehman criticised the defence minister’s remarks as inappropriate for his office, saying such statements could further inflame public sentiment.
He also informed the House that he had received a formal communication from the JAAC and forwarded it to the government, but had not yet received a response.
While welcoming the group’s decision to postpone a planned march towards Muzaffarabad, he stressed that grievances should be addressed through dialogue rather than confrontation.
PPP Chairman Bilawal, speaking from the treasury benches within the ruling coalition, strongly rebuked remarks questioning the Kashmiri identity of Rawalakot residents, escalating the political row. He asked why federal ministers were making statements that aggravated tensions instead of calming the situation, and said the minister responsible should apologise. He warned that such rhetoric had worsened an already sensitive situation in AJK, saying it had “added fuel to the fire.” Bilawal urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to rein in cabinet members and allow space for Maulana Rehman to play a mediating role in the crisis.
Beyond the AJK issue, Bilawal also raised concerns over coalition governance and local government systems, linking unresolved administrative issues in Karachi to broader federal performance.
In unusually sharp remarks, he questioned Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) role in government, suggesting that continued participation without delivery on commitments amounted to political deception.
He also announced that local government elections in Gilgit-Baltistan would be held within 90 days, adding the PPP was forming a government there with support from Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Responding for the government, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah defended the administration’s handling of the AJK situation, accusing the JAAC of violence and arson during earlier phases of its protests.
He said most of the group’s demands had already been addressed, including subsidies on electricity at Rs3.50 per unit, along with federal financial support and wheat subsidies for AJK.
He said the disputed matter of refugee seats was under review by a six-member committee, and stressed it could not be resolved through street agitation.
He alleged that the JAAC had rejected government offers for dialogue, including participation in an all-parties conference, and claimed the protests were aimed at disrupting upcoming elections in AJK.
While acknowledging Maulana Rehman’s role and potential for mediation, he described Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” and welcomed continued political engagement. However, he maintained that the issue required constitutional and political resolution rather than street protests.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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