Information on the Jammu and Kashmir National Democratic Party (JKNDP), also referred to as the National Democratic Party (NDP) by sources, is scarce among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

According to the Amnesty International (AI) attachment,

Pakistan denies the legitimacy of the accession of Jammu and Kashmir to India and has emphasized the provisional and autonomous status of Azad ("free") Jammu and Kashmir, the part of Jammu and Kashmir which is under Pakistan's control pending a plebiscite to determine the future of Kashmir. The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Interim Constitution Act of 1974, however, limits the right to freedom of association in the state when it says in Article 4(7)(2): "No person or party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir shall be permitted to propagate against, or take part in activities prejudicial or detrimental to, the ideology of the State's accession to Pakistan" (28 June 1996).

The NDP is a member of the Kashmir National Alliance, along with the National Liberation Front, the National Awami League and the National Student Federation (India Abroad 14 June 1996; AI 28 June 1996). These four parties are considered "nationalist" in nature (The Hindu 5 June 1996).

In June 1996 the Kashmir National Alliance was involved in the "Long March" protest against the rejection of 36 candidates for the 30 June 1996 elections because they favour independence for Azad Kashmir (AI 28 June 1996; India Abroad 14 June 1996; The Hindu 5 June 1996). KNA candidates were among those rejected (ibid.; India Abroad 14 June 1996).

Information on when the JKNDP was founded and on the names of its leaders, other than that provided in the Political Handbook of the World: 1995-1996, and on the current treatment of JKNDP members by the authorities and police could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB. This publication is available at Regional Documentation Centres

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Amnesty International (AI). 28 June 1996. "Amnesty International News Release: Pakistan: Arbitrary Arrest of Political Activists Before Elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir." (AI Index: ASA 33/05/96). [Internet]. [Accessed 24 Apr. 1997]

The Hindu. 5 June 1996. Weekly Edition. P.S. Suryanarayana. "Pak. Seeks to Redefine PoK Status." [Internet] [Accessed 24 Apr. 1997]

India Abroad [Toronto]. 14 June 1996. Tariq Dutt. "Parties Gear up for Election in Pakistan Held Kashmir." (The Ethnic NewsWatch 14 June 1996.NEXIS)

Amnesty International (AI). 28 June 1996. "Amnesty International News Release: Pakistan: Arbitrary Arrest of Political Activists Before Elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir." (AI Index: ASA 33/05/96). [Internet]. [Accessed 24 Apr. 1997]

The Hindu. 5 June 1996. Weekly Edition. P.S. Suryanarayana. "Pak. Seeks to Redefine PoK Status." [Internet] [Accessed 24 Apr. 1997]

India Abroad [Toronto]. 14 June 1996. Tariq Dutt. "Parties Gear up for Election in Pakistan Held Kashmir." (The Ethnic NewsWatch 14 June 1996.NEXIS)

DIRB. "Pakistan" country file. May 1995-present.

_____. "Pakistan: Amnesty International" country file. August 1996-present.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992.

The Europa World Year Book 1995. 1995.

Extremist Groups: An International Compilation of Terrorist Organizations, Violent Political Groups, and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements. 1996.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. (Internet)

Human Rights Watch World Report 1997. 1996.

Internet search.

Mondes rebelles: acteurs, conflits et violences politiques. 1996.
Office fédéral des réfugiés (ODR) [Berne]. November 1995.

Feuille d'information sur les pays: Pakistan: état en novembre 1995.

Refugee Branch Asylum Division (RBAD), Citizenship and Immigration Canada [Ottawa]. Occasional papers. 1996-present.

Revolutionary and Dissident Movements of the World: An International Guide. 1991.

SHARENet database.

On-line search of media sources.