Revocation Of Special Status Brings Cheer To West Pakistan Refugees

when the Centre diluted Article 370, which gave semi-autonomous status to J&K, the move ended a 70-year struggle of West Pakistan Refugees (WPR) who were fighting for citizenship rights in Jammu and Kashmir.

WPRs had migrated from Sialkot in Pakistan’s West Punjab to J&K and other states of India in August 1947. Since these refugees and their descendants were not residents of the undivided J&K, they were denied the citizenship right of the erstwhile state. They also did not have the right to own the property, employment by the state government and vote in the assembly elections.

Their Indian citizenship allowed them the right to vote in parliament elections and for Central government.

“Since both the J&K Constitution and the state subject law was abolished on August 5, every person who enjoys Indian citizenship, including the WPR refugees, are now entitled to all rights enjoyed by residents of J&K,” said former law secretary, Muhammad Ashraf Mir.

He said it was the state subject law that prevented non-state subjects, including the WPRs, from becoming permanent residents of J&K as per the eligibility conditions for granting Permanent Resident Certificate (PRC).

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