GUJRAT (Dunya News) - Former federal minister and senior PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique has called for the protection of Kashmiris' democratic rights, stressing that they should be allowed to exercise their right to vote freely and that differing opinions should not be equated with treason.
Addressing workers of the LA-38 Jammu-5 constituency during a gathering related to the Kashmir elections in Gujrat, Rafique said there was no one more committed to Pakistan than the people of Kashmir, who, he said, had sacrificed their lives in the struggle for freedom.
He urged that the legitimate demands of the Kashmiri people be addressed through dialogue and that no obstacles should be placed in the electoral process, allowing them to exercise their right to vote without interference.
The former minister said the current situation in Kashmir was the result of poor governance and emphasized that creating an atmosphere for dialogue was essential to resolving the region's challenges.
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He added that lockdowns were not a solution to political problems and argued that branding those with differing views as traitors was neither appropriate nor constructive.
Rafique also said that wars are fought not only by armed forces but by entire nations, which ultimately bear their consequences.
Calling India the biggest adversary of both Pakistan and the Kashmiri people, he claimed that New Delhi was benefiting from the prevailing situation and stressed the need for a lasting resolution to the Kashmir issue.
He noted that although he currently holds no government office, efforts should continue to find a viable solution to the problems facing the people of Kashmir.