The Peoples Democratic Party’s newly constituted Political Affairs Committee (PAC), during its first meeting scheduled this week, will review and discuss the emerging political situation in J&K.
The 11-member PAC — the party’s highest decision-making body — was constituted by PDP president and Chief Minster Mehbooba Mufti three days ago.
“The PAC will meet this week,” PDP spokesman Rafi Mir told Kashmir Post.
PDP sources said while no major decision was expected to be taken in the first meeting of PAC, all issues about the party, its alliance with the BJP, Kathua rape-murder case would come up for discussion.
“PAC faces a sensitive task in the backdrop of the overall situation in Kashmir that continues to remain on edge. Since many experienced politicians are members of PAC, they will surely take forward the core agenda of the party and also address the sensitivities,” a senior party leader said.
While all is not well with the PDP-BJP coalition which has come to fore after the rape and murder of a nomadic girl, there has been also a surge in violence in Kashmir. The concern for the PDP is civilian killings and youth taking up arms especially in south Kashmir that was once its bastion.
The PAC was constituted by Mehbooba over four months after her reelection as the party president on December 2, 2017.
Besides Mehbooba, senior party leader and Member Parliament Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, party vice president Mohammad Sartaj Madni, senior minister Abdul Rahman Veeri, senior party leaders Mehboob Beg, Nizam-ud-din Bhat, Mohammad Dilawar Mir, TS Bajwa, Choudary Zulfikar Ali, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjoora, both ministers, and Yashpal Sharma are members of PAC.
The prominent omissions from PAC are Mansoor Hussain and Asgar Ali.