Twelve Seats: The Real Question in Azad Jammu and Kashmir

This analysis by Dr. Umair Pervez Khan, member of the IPS Kashmir Working Group, examines the controversy surrounding the twelve seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The policy insight explores the democratic concerns over their disproportionate electoral influence while highlighting the constitutional and political significance of maintaining representation for displaced Kashmiris. It argues that abolishing the seats would undermine Pakistan’s broader position on the Kashmir dispute. Importantly, the commentary proposes recalibrating refugee representation according to the size of the displaced electorate and limiting their votes in government-formation matters, offering a potential settlement that balances local democratic control with the political rights of displaced Kashmiris.