Srinagar, February 1, 2026 : Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader and Langate MLA Sheikh Khurshid on Sunday said he has submitted a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking citizenship and legal status for women and children who returned from Pakistan and settled in the UT under the Government’s Rehabilitation Policy for former militants.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Assembly session beginning Monday, Khurshid said many such families have been living in Jammu and Kashmir for years but continue to remain without citizenship or legal recognition, resulting in denial of basic rights like education, healthcare, employment and identity documents.
“The resolution urges the J&K Government and the Government of India to grant citizenship or appropriate legal status, issue valid domicile and identity documents, and ensure dignity, security and constitutional safeguards,” he said.
A sizeable number of women from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) who returned under the policy are currently residing in Bandipora, Baramulla and Kupwara districts of north Kashmir.
Khurshid also said he has sought an all-party meeting to ensure the participation of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik, presently detained under the Public Safety Act, in the forthcoming Assembly session.
“The House should pass a resolution urging the Lieutenant Governor to ensure his presence in the Assembly,” he said.
The MLA further condemned recent attacks on Kashmiris living and working in different parts of the country, urging Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to raise the issue with the Union Home Ministry and state governments to ensure their safety.
He also demanded a discussion in the Assembly on the unilateral dismissal of government employees, calling it a violation of natural justice, and sought a transparent mechanism to allow affected employees to present their case.
