Reimagining Refugee Representation in AJK

The controversy surrounding twelve refugee seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly has brought renewed attention to the constitutional and political challenges of refugee representation in AJK, particularly in light of the demands raised by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).Although it appears to concern electoral representation, the issue raises broader questions about the constitutional identity of AJK, Pakistan’s position on the wider Jammu and Kashmir dispute, the rights of displaced populations, and the future of democratic legitimacy in Muzaffarabad. Therefore, the real question is not whether refugee representation should continue, but how it should be reformed. The current system has become vulnerable to political manipulation, yet the principle of refugee representation remains valid. Reform should safeguard refugees' voting rights while limiting the disproportionate influence of separate refugee constituencies. Given these constitutional, political and historical realities, it is significant to seek alternative options that can ensure refugee representation in the AJK legislative framework. In this regard, this paper offers an alternative proposal to ensure refugee representation without undermining the political rights of local people in AJK.