The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended that the West Pakistani refugees should be given permanent resident certificate and voting right in the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Being citizens of India, they enjoy the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
At the time of partition, over 7,000 families had crossed over to the Indian side of Line of Control (LoC) and International Border from the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the then-Western Pakistan. Then, during the Indo-Pakistan wars in 1965 and 1971, about 10,000 more families were displaced from 47 villages of Chhamb area.
In its 183rd report on problems being faced by refugees and displaced persons in the State, which was tabled in Rajya Sabha on Monday, the Committee observed that the West Pakistani Refugees could not purchase land in the State and due to non-protection of their rights, they were living as slaves.
Although the Centre has requested the State Government to consider conferment of the benefit of State subject and to consider issuance of Permanent Resident Certificate to them, the Committee expressed serious concern over the delay in grant of voting rights to them in the State Assembly elections.
The Committee a provision of reservation in jobs for the refugees should be implemented soon.
Apart from opening of government schools for their wards, it recommended that the Centre impress upon the State Government for early finalisation of one-time financial package for them. “One-time compensation of Rs.30 lakh may be provided within one year and there should not be any delay in the matter,” the report said.
For displaced persons, the Committee said there was a need for fresh enumeration as non-registered families were not given proper relief and compensation. It also suggested that the Central Government should take up the matter of de-freezing eight State Assembly seats for them.
However, on the demand of inclusion of displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied J&K for inclusion in any dialogue on the State, the Committee said the issue should be examined cautiously.