National Assembly witnesses heated exchanges over Kashmir, water distribution and PTI founder’s access

WEB DESK: The National Assembly on Thursday saw a series of charged debates as lawmakers clashed over Kashmir-related remarks, water distribution between provinces, and the continued restriction of meetings with the PTI founder, highlighting deepening political divisions across the House.

Khawaja Asif defends Kashmir policy, urges restraint in House proceedings

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif urged opposition members to refrain from disrupting parliamentary proceedings while defending Pakistan’s longstanding position on Kashmir.

He said protests were permissible but should not obstruct the functioning of the House, adding that millions of Kashmir-related refugees had made immense sacrifices for the country.

Asif maintained that all Pakistanis had a stake in Kashmir, describing it as central to national interests, and reiterated that the country would not allow the issue to be weakened.

He stressed that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and electoral processes rather than by taking the law into one’s own hands.

Referring to violence against civilians and allegations raised during the session, he said such matters should be decided by the people through democratic means.

He also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of Kashmiri refugees and protecting the constitutional framework in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Opposition raises concerns over governance, water crisis and political access

Earlier, PTI lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat called for parliamentary intervention in the Kashmir issue and criticised the use of force against civilians, saying neither attacks on hospitals nor firing on unarmed individuals could be justified.

He also questioned the status of meetings with the PTI founder, arguing that legal petitions had effectively triggered the process, and insisted that no restriction on such meetings could supersede the law.

Federal Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry termed refugee seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir a “red line”, stressing their link to the Kashmir dispute and urging the banned Awami Action Committee to pursue peaceful dialogue.

The House also witnessed a separate debate on water distribution, where PPP lawmakers challenged official figures on Sindh’s share. Federal Minister Moin Wattoo defended the data cited by IRSA, claiming Sindh had received more than its allocated share, while announcing that a telemetry system would be completed by 2027.

The Speaker later directed the minister to hold a meeting to resolve concerns over disputed statistics.

In another exchange, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar lamented that meetings with the party founder had been barred for 34 weeks despite committee formations.

The Speaker responded that facilitation efforts had been made but were disrupted, underscoring ongoing tensions between the government and opposition over political access and parliamentary conduct.