The government has taken a principal decision that the Kashmiris residing in Pakistan would be granted the right of dual registration of vote — in the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and in one electoral area in Pakistan — provided they are in possession of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and such cards bear one address of Pakistan, permanent or temporary, after the Law Ministry and three other federal ministries formally approved the proposal, a source in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told Pakistan Today on Sunday.
The decision, upon which the federal government seems more than determined even in the face of ‘polite’ opposition from the ECP, would add some 400,000-500,000 new voters in the electoral rolls. The proposal to grant the right of dual vote to the Kashmiris has been under consideration by the ECP for months.
The ECP source said that it had sought legal and constitutional opinion of the Law Ministry “as to whether or not the state subjects of Azad Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of Pakistan and whether or not they are entitled to be enrolled in Pakistan as voters, despite the fact that such citizens are also enrolled as voters in the electoral rolls of Azad Jammu and Kashmir”.
The Law Ministry in its opinion, a copy of which was available with Pakistan Today, advised the ECP that those Kashmiris who are residing in Pakistan had the right of dual registration of vote in the State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and only in one electoral area in Pakistan, provided they were in possession of CNICs issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and such cards bore one address of Pakistan, permanent or temporary.
Justifying its opinion, the ministry said it examined the matter in light of the constitution and other relevant laws on the subject. It held that according to Article 1: “Pakistan shall be a federal republic to be known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the territories of Pakistan shall comprise such states and territories as are or may be included in Pakistan, whether by accession or otherwise.”
Article 257 provides that when the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir decided to accede to Pakistan, the relationship between Pakistan and that state shall be determined in accordance with the wishes of the people of that state. The opinion stated further that until the future of the state was determined in accordance with the UNCIP Resolutions, all affairs of its government were being governed under the AJK Interim Constitution Act of 1974.
After unconstitutional and illegal occupation on Gilgit Baltistan, the Pakistan government is now trying to capture Azad Kashmir with the so-called status of a province? Why, and what is the problem of the Pakistan government? Is this government want to see bloody revolution in Azad Kashmir like Indian-held Kashmir?
I can agree with you Muhsen, but want to know more about both sides of divided Kashmir, and also how can I know about real picture of this state?
Oh my God! Will Kashmiris have to fight against Pakistan like they are fighting against India in Indian held Kashmir after such another bad decision, under consideration of Law Ministry? Pakistan should remember that no Kashmiri will accept another draconian decision after a one-sided decision by the Pakistan government or establishment on Gilgit Baltistan.
We need complete independence in Azad Kashmir and we are expecting Constituent Assembly not a Legislative Assembly in the state, indirectly under the control of Pakistan. It is also our demand that Pakistan should vacate Gilgit Baltistan and hands over complete control (of this territory) to Azad Kashmir.
Agreed 100% with what you said mohsin. Cant add more.
@Basharat – thank you very much for supporting our voice…may God bless you
hmmm, I was thinking Azad Kashmir is part of Pakistan?
Well there are many Kashmiris other then Muhsen and Ali. I am a Kashmiri as well and it is an honour for us to be part of Pak Sar Zameen. There are certain naive people who donot understand the importance of Pakistan in the Muslim World and world in general. The moment Pakistani armed forces vacate Kashmir, Indian aggressors would be at our door steps assulting our hounour and dignity. So As a Kashmiri I would like to thank Pakistani Army and the Government for protecting the honour and dignity of Kashmiri people for the last 64 Years and gave us more respect then they gave to rest of Pakistan.
Pakistan would not be in Kashmir if it did not benefit them! So lets NOT pretend the Paksitanis are doing the Kashmiries a favour. They have only taken and given us in return…their biggest asset CORRUPTION! The sooner both Pakistan and India get of Kashmir the bettter – for them and more importantly the Kashmiris!
Mr Malik – you have complete right to express your opinion about the future of our motherland, Kashmir. First thing you must show your complete name and your area in Kashmir, and second thing is, you must know that all Kashmiris give due respect to Pakistan, and its people, and also its armed forces. You should know that tribal militants, with backing of newly-formed Pakistan Army, attacked our motherland first, and then India entered in this game.
Mr Malik – It is our history, and everyone must accept this unfortunate history. If you will insist I can give you complete historical background…
One thing more Mr Malik that we all Muslims give more respects to Saudi Arab due to holiest places of Muslims there, but it should not meant that Pakistan should become part of Saudi Arab. So, we Kashmiris also like Pakistan, but it does not mean we should become part of Pakistan.
I know Pakistan is pak-sar-zameen, and you should also know Kashmir is also pak-sar-zameen…
my name is zahid iqbal and iam from azad kashmir sensah if the tribals did not invade our motherland then we would be ruled eaither by india or by the ruler of kashmir at the time a hindu king and independent who forbade muslims to eat beef where the muslims were suffering and opperessed so im glad that someone thought about invading rather then sitting down at home .we kashmiris on both sides should get a plebisite to decide our future
Muhsen, zahid do you honestly believe that PAK is gonna let Kashmir end up as an independent state ? Incase you aren’t familiar with the situation they handed part of this territory to China during during 1960’s & have been engaged in wartime developments alongside them ever since. So unless you have a military capable of defending its territory you will be invaded eventually by either of those nations. Though I’d like add that as an Indian I want to see the people of Kashmir happy above all else but sadly on both sides of the border this issue is the cornerstone of major political mileage especially in PAK !
rohit the plebisite question s would be according to un resolutions independence is not an option its pakistan or india as agreed by nehru, british india did not give that option to the princley states .india and pakistan can hold the plebiste on their respective sides of the loc heavley monitered by the un ,nato .eu. g20 and the results shouldbe adhered to , why would india need half a million troops in the valley its not even the border to combat 800 freedom fighters or terrorists whatever its a bit out of proportion eg ,the usa sent 140,000 troops to aghanistan to take on the taliban
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