West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir have the right to vote in parliamentary elections but not in state or local elections.
The community of West Pakistan refugees, who migrated to India following hostilities during the Partition, have demanded citizenship rights in Jammu and Kashmir, including the right to vote and contest for the state elections.
Besides, they have also demanded special rehabilitation package, allotment of land, special recruitment and issuance of SC/ OBC certificates and appointment of a Relief Commissioner to look into and redress their grievances.
The West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India and have the right to vote in parliamentary elections. However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and thus do not enjoy voting rights to the state assembly and local bodies.
A delegation of WP refugees led by their President Labha Ram Gandhi received favourable overtures from union home minister Rajnath Singh when it to submitted him a charter of demands. Appreciating their sentiments, Rajnath Singh assured the delegation that he would look into the matter and take necessary action.
The 5,764 families that migrated in 1947 from West Pakistan and have steadily grown into substantive numbers do not have the rights of permanent citizens like those of who got displaced in areas falling within Jammu and Kashmir region in 1947, 1965 and 1971.
While PDP, the senior partner in the state government, is not interested in giving them permanent citizenship, the BJP state unit and the Central government are keen, as it could bolster their electoral prospects in the state to some degrees.
Moreover, the recommendations made by a Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in its 183rd report on "Problems being faced by refugees and displaced persons in J&K" also strongly recommended granting of Permanent Resident Status to the West Pakistani refugees.
Until the time their permanent state residency matter remains unsolved, Rajnath assured them of working out a suitable provision to overcome the problems faced in terms of non-issuance of SC/ST/ OBC certificates by the state government.
The conferment of Permanent Resident Status to the West Pakistani refugees settled in J&K falls within the purview of J&K Constitution, which will enable them for jobs under the state government, for admission into the State Technical/ Professional institutions and the right to purchase/ acquire land/ immovable properties in the state.
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