Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday voiced deep concern over the law and order situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after violent protests left three policemen dead a day earlier, urging citizens to remain peaceful and instructing law enforcement agencies to show restraint.
A three-day strike[1] paralysed AJK under a communications blackout after talks between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)[2], the AJK government, and federal ministers collapsed over elite privileges[3] and reserved refugee seats, sparking rival protests and violence. On Wednesday, AJK PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq and Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry invited the JAAC for fresh dialogue.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has also convened[4] an important meeting in Islamabad on Thursday (today) to consider steps to defuse the situation.
“The prime minister has made a strong appeal to citizens to remain peaceful,” the Prime Minister’s Office posted on X. “He has urged that peaceful protest is the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen, but protesters should refrain from causing harm to public order.”
PM Shehbaz, according to the statement, has also directed that law enforcement agencies exercise restraint and patience with the protesters.
“The prime minister has said that respect for public sentiments must be ensured, and any unnecessary harshness should be avoided,” the statement said, adding that the government was always ready to address the issues of its Kashmiri brothers.
Expressing “deep concern over the unfortunate incidents during the protests”, the premier ordered a transparent investigation into the matter.
“The prime minister has directed immediate assistance to the families affected by the protest demonstrations,” read the statement. “At the government level, to find a peaceful resolution to the issue, the prime minister has decided to expand the negotiation committee.”
The committee includes Senator Rana Sanaullah, Federal Ministers Sardar Yusuf, Ahsan Iqbal, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Masood Khan, and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
Furthermore, PM Shehbaz directed that the negotiation committee immediately proceed to Muzaffarabad and find an immediate and lasting solution to the issues.
“The prime minister has appealed to the members and leadership of the JAAC to cooperate with the government’s negotiation committee.
“The committee will send its recommendations and proposed solutions to the Prime Minister’s Office without delay so that steps can be taken for the immediate resolution of the issues.”
References
- ^ three-day strike (www.dawn.com)
- ^ Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) (www.dawn.com)
- ^ elite privileges (www.dawn.com)
- ^ convened (www.dawn.com)