ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has criticized efforts to abolish twelve Kashmir Assembly seats allocated for voters in Pakistan, describing them as an attempt to disrupt the electoral process ahead of upcoming elections.

According to Radio Pakistan, Asif expressed his concerns on the social media platform X, asserting that such demands undermine democratic principles. He emphasized that the individuals advocating for this change should present their case to the public, allowing citizens to determine their own representation. He warned that failing to do so would amount to political blackmail rather than a democratic process.

Asif highlighted that Sialkot city and tehsil currently hold one seat in the Azad Kashmir Assembly and two seats in the Pakistan National Assembly. He noted that the majority of Kashmiri migrants in Sialkot are originally from Jammu, having settled there in 1947 after enduring significant hardships, including the loss of over 200,000 lives. Asif argued that depriving these migrants of their representation would be unjust, given their long-standing contributions and sacrifices.

He further noted that these communities have faced severe poverty and lack of basic amenities for decades. Asif urged those seeking recognition for their opinions to adhere to democratic processes to ensure fair representation.