• Khawaja Asif defends his words. slams JAAC conduct after criticism from both sides of the aisle• Raja Pervaiz Ashraf apologises to people of Rawalakot on Asif’s behalf• Bilawal says PM must have authority to control his team• Fazl says JAAC has asked him to mediate with govt
ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif came under scathing criticism from coalition partners as well as the opposition in the National Assembly on Wednesday over his remarks about the people of Azad Jammu. Kashmir, particularly Rawalakot.
Asif had said in an interview that he did not consider people from Rawalakot to be Kashmiris. while referring to supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which is mainly based in the area.
Speaking in the National Assembly. PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said such a “sweeping statement” should not be made under any circumstances, especially by such a senior official.
He said “water needed to be poured onto the fire” to address the problems of the Kashmiris. He acknowledged that the government and the establishment were trying their best to resolve issues in the region.
Ashraf said such “irresponsible remarks” were detrimental to the Kashmir cause. tendered an apology on Asif’s behalf to the people of Rawalakot.
Soon after Ashraf completed his emotional speech, expressing his. the PPP’s attachment to the Kashmir cause, Asif took the floor and reiterated his earlier position, saying that a mere birth certificate did not allow anyone to criticise the state and play into the hands of foreign powers.
Asif criticised the JAAC for its conduct and for allegedly backtracking on its commitments.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman then took the floor. showed a paper, claiming it was a letter from the JAAC asking him to mediate between the committee and the government.
He also condemned the “provocative” statements made by Asif. saying they should not have been made, particularly in his capacity as defence minister.
“What is this government up to? You have left peace to Ishaq Dar. fighting to Khawaja Asif,” he remarked, adding: “The state is like a mother and father. Do we treat children like this?”
He stressed that politicians should take the lead in resolving such issues. added that those sitting on the treasury benches used to criticise the establishment in the past.
‘Politicians must show maturity’
While Maulana Fazlur Rehman was speaking, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif entered the house and shook hands with opposition members.
After the floor was given to the prime minister, he said politicians had to show maturity. Hinting towards PTI members. he said some conversations he had held with Maulana Fazlur Rehman in private would “go with him to his grave”, as all information could not be discussed publicly.
In a lighter tone. Maulana Fazlur Rehman responded that he allowed PM Shehbaz to openly disclose what had been discussed with him privately.
The prime minister replied in the same tone. saying he would not accept Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s offer as “matters will go far then”.
Speaking after the exchange between the prime minister. Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah drew the house’s attention to the recent unrest in AJK and elaborated on the current situation.
He said the JAAC’s recent protests were an attempt to stop the upcoming elections in July. maintained that only the AJK Legislative Assembly had the right to decide the status of the 12 refugee seats, as the issue could not be decided through violent demonstrations.
Meanwhile. PTI members also criticised cabinet members who had allegedly claimed that nine seats of Kashmiri migrants from Punjab were “in their pockets”.
Bilawal questions Asif’s cabinet role
Soon after his brief appearance, the prime minister left the house. the floor was given to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Bhutto-Zardari said PM Shehbaz wanted to bring the country out of difficult situations by “positively engaging” with coalition partners. the opposition, but some ministers were creating problems in the process.
“Some ministers create issues for him. They always create hurdles in the work of the prime minister rather than helping him,” Mr Bilawal said.
He added that the government and all political parties had tried to resolve issues in AJK politically.
“But we should ask why a minister is still part of the federal cabinet after saying. without backing off, that the Kashmiris of Rawalakot are not Kashmiris,” he said.
“How is it possible to tolerate these words when they are uttered by a defence minister. let alone a senior minister?”
He lashed out at Asif, asking how it could be justified that the minister remained in office. had not agreed to tender an apology.
He said that apart from Kashmir’s endemic problems. political difficulties, the minister’s statement was “similar to igniting the fire already burning in Kashmir, instead of extinguishing it”.
The PPP chairman said the time had come to extinguish the fire. He said if Maulana Fazlur Rehman had taken an initiative. agreed to take responsibility for mediating in AJK, he should be given space.
“We should also engage the people who are protesting. should bring the issue to a kind of political resolution so that the Kashmiris do not have to protest time and again,” he said.
The PPP chairman said the prime minister should have the mandate and authority to control his team.
“If the prime minister can’t direct his minister to follow his policy. every minister is speaking in a different direction, it will create more difficulties for the government instead of helping the situation,” he added.
Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026
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