Leadership in Practice

  Azad Kashmir: More Than a Local Authority   By Sardar Aftab Khan   A persistent misconception has begun to take root in policy discussions and even among some senior legal minds: that the Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is nothing more than a local administrative authority, limited in both scope and purpose to the territory it currently governs — stretching from Chamb (Bhimber) to Taobutt (Neelum).   At first glance, this view appears grounded in a straightforward reading of the AJK Interim Constitution, 1974. After all, the Government’s executive authority is indeed exercised within the areas presently under its administration. But this interpretation, while partially correct, is fundamentally incomplete. It confuses territorial jurisdiction with constitutional identity, and in doing so, risks undermining both.   To understand what AJK is — and what it is not — one must begin with the AJK Interim Constitution, 1974 itself, but not sele...

  Legal and Public Policy Advocacy Briefing  Title:  Constitutional Status, Scope, and Purpose of the Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir under the AJK Interim Constitution, 1974 Prepared by: Sardar Aftab Khan                                                      Date: 27/05/2026 I. Issues Presented Whether the Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir (AJK Government) is constitutionally limited to a local territorial authority confined to areas presently under its administration. Whether the AJK Government has any constitutional or structural relevance to the wider State of Jammu and Kashmir and the UN/UNCIP framework governing the dispute. Whether the interpretat...

The Future Design of the 12 Refugee Seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly A policy paper for legal, constitutional and policy discussion Prepared by Sardar Aftab Khan   Date: 13 May 2026   Executive Summary This paper presents an objective comparison of three constitutional-policy options for the future of the 12 seats currently allocated to refugees from Jammu and Kashmir and Mangla Dam affectees settled in Pakistan. The purpose is not to advocate a single predetermined outcome, but to provide a structured basis for legal and institutional assessment. The constitutional baseline is clear: the AJ&K Interim Constitution, 1974, presently provides for 45 directly elected Assembly seats, comprising 33 constituencies in AJ&K and 12 constituencies in Pakistan for Kashmiri refugees. That structure is reflected in official AJ&K publications and means that any major redesign requires constitutional amendment rather than mere administrative adjustment. At t...