Srinagar, June 22 (KNS): Government on Wednesday said that as many as 47,448 refugee families including West Pakistani refugee, Displaces Persons of Pakistani occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Chamb Refugees are presently residing in the Jammu region.
However, the government said that only Pakistan occupied Kashmir refugees have been given permanent citizenship of the state but those of West Pakistan refugees are not permanent residents of the state.
“Government has no plan to give permanent citizenship to the refugees belonging to West Pakistan though they are the citizens of the country,” said Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari, in reply to the written question of independent MLA from Langate, Er Abdul Rashid.
Giving figures of the refugees, the minister said that 31,619 Displaces Persons of Pakistani occupied Jammu and Kashmir and 5,764West Pakistani refugees have settled in Jammu region of the state.
He further said that as many as 3500, 4600, 1965 Chhamb refugees of 1965, 1971 (camp), 1971 (non-camp), respectively, are residing in Jammu region, making the total number of refugees to 47448.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
“All the DPs who got displaced from PoK being a part of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State are permanent residents of the State. However the refugees who came from the area which became West Pakistan are not permanent resident of J&K,” he said.
About the particulars of refugees serving in government departments, the minister said no West Pakistan refugee has been appointed in any government department.
“West Pakistani refugees are not considered for appointment against any State government post because they are not permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir,” the minister said.
The minister said that Displaced Persons of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir of 1947, 1965 and 1971 (camp and non-camp) are eligible for appointment to any state government posts or any democratic institution like panchayat, council, Rajya Sabha and Parliament.
“The information regarding the particulars if refugees appointed is being collected,” the minister added. (KNS)