SRINAGAR : As many as 25 seats remained reserved for the representatives of the people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative assembly. According to Jammu and Kashmir constitution, 25 seats are reserved for the representatives of people of the POK. The constituent Assembly was set up in 1951 to frame a constitution for the state.
The setting up of the Assembly was also envisaged in the Maharaja’s proclamation of March 5, 1948, whereby power was transferred to the representatives of people. The elections were held in September 1951, in which 75 members were returned from various constituencies in Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu.
In addition, 25 seats were reserved for the areas held by Pakistan in the House.
The first sitting of the constituent assembly was held on October 31, 1951 at Srinagar.
Since then the seats have remained vacant in the House. Today only 15 seats from serial number 73 to 87 were marked vacant. However, officials said it is just a symbolic gesture to keep some seats vacant for PoK people. However, two more seats of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and another member Muzaffar Hussain Baig also remained vacant as they were elected to Lok Sabha from Anantnag and Baramulla constituencies respectively. Majority members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained absent from the House as they remained busy with their national president Amit Shah meet at Jammu. (AGENCIES)
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