Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 23: MLA Rajouri, Iftkhar Ahmed, has reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for the long-pending demands of PoJK Displaced Persons (DPs) at the highest level.
During a meeting at the Bakshi Nagar office of SOS International in Jammu, Iftkhar Ahmed assured the leadership of the organization that he would work towards tangible solutions to their grievances.
The meeting, led by SOS International chairman Rajiv Chuni, focused on several key demands, including the full implementation of the PoJK DPs’ package approved by the Congress-NC coalition Government in 2014. Among the top priorities discussed were reserving eight seats in the J&K Assembly for PoJK DPs, granting them Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, and establishing specialized security units like the Mirpur, Muzaffarabad, and Poonch Scouts to guard the Line of Control (LoC).
Chuni also emphasized the need for direct political representation of PoJK DPs in the J&K Assembly, criticizing the practice of nominating non-political representatives. He proposed the formation of a PoJK Advisory Committee, headed by the Chief Minister and comprising nominated representatives from the displaced community, to institutionalize their participation in policymaking.
A major issue discussed was the delayed financial assistance to PoJK DPs, a commitment that has remained unfulfilled for years. Ahmed assured the delegation that he would take up the matter with relevant authorities to expedite the disbursement of funds.
Reiterating his support, Ahmed vowed to raise these issues at appropriate forums to secure lasting solutions. The SOS International team expressed optimism that the discussions would lead to meaningful policy changes benefiting PoJK DPs.
The meeting was attended by several office bearers of SOS International, including Prof N N Sharma, V K Datta, Ved Raj Bali, Amarjeet Singh, Arun Gupta, and other prominent members.
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