Kashmir Property Dispute: Federal govt withdraws auction notification

ISLAMABAD (Rizwan Abbasi): The federal government, under pressure, has withdrawn the auction notification regarding the sale of Kashmir property following strong backlash from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Council.

This decision came after a letter of protest from members of the AJK Council, leading to the suspension of the committee formed to oversee the auction.

The notification, a copy of which is available with Daily Ausaf, issued by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan stated, “Ministry’s notification of even number dated 3rd September 2024 regarding “Utilization/disposal of J&K State Property” is hereby withdrawn ab-initio.”

Earlier today, the AJK Council expressed serious concerns in a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif demanding an immediate halt to the activities of the Kashmir Property Committee, citing that the committee’s operations are against the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people.

The letter, a copy of which is available with Daily Ausaf, stated that the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs lacks the legal authority to establish such a committee and insists that property decisions should be made with the consent of elected representatives and ensure the involvement of the AJK government.

According to sources, the Prime Minister of Pakistan had formed a new committee to manage the auction of Jammu and Kashmir state property, valued at around Rs. 8 trillion, without calling a meeting of the Kashmir Council.

Notably, the committee did not include any representatives from Azad Kashmir, sparking criticism.

Despite the council members’ request for a meeting, no session was called, leading to significant criticism of the Prime Minister. Council members and political circles have raised concerns about the lack of representation from Azad Kashmir, questioning the transparency of the auction process.

Political analysts highlight that excluding Azad Kashmir from key decisions regarding the auction of Kashmir state property is a serious issue that requires immediate attention.