Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that a statement attributed to him ,claiming that the people of Rawalakot are not Kashmiris , is baseless. According to him, he never took such a position, adding that pro-Pakistan slogans are still being raised in Indian-administered Kashmir today, which reflects the affection Kashmiri people hold for Pakistan.
Addressing a public gathering in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said that the reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees will never be abolished under any circumstances, as refugees are the rightful heirs of Kashmir, and their constitutional and democratic rights will be protected at all costs.
Statement Called Baseless
The Defence Minister said the statement attributed to him regarding the people of Rawalakot has no basis in fact. He made clear that he never made any such statement about the people of Rawalakot or Azad Kashmir.
Khawaja Asif said that people in Indian-administered Kashmir are still chanting "Pakistan Zindabad” slogans today, which he said proves that the hearts of the Kashmiri people beat for Pakistan.
Action Committee’s Demands
Criticizing the Azad Kashmir Action Committee, he said that the government had already accepted all of the organization’s demands, and that Rs 24 to 25 billion had also been provided for this purpose. Despite this, he claimed, certain elements fueled tension and unrest, the cost of which was borne by the public.
The Defence Minister further alleged that some individuals associated with the Action Committee were involved in suspicious activities and foreign funding, though he did not present any details or evidence to support these allegations.
Commenting on the political situation, Khawaja Asif claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) will win the upcoming Azad Kashmir elections and form the government.
