PM convenes high-level meeting on AJK situation as protests enter fourth day
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a high-level meeting on Monday to discuss the ongoing situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The situation worsened after a wheel-jam strike against inflated electricity bills and taxes entered its fourth day and protests turned violent.
The Awami Action Committee (AAC) has decided to hold a long march to the capital Muzaffarabad. The protestors have already staged sit-ins, closing Kohala–Muzaffarabad Road at several locations.
The government of AJK called in the Rangers and AJK police after clashes between the police and protestors erupted in Mirpur during demonstrations that killed a cop and injured more than 70 others.
Heavy contingents of police have been posted at roundabouts and sensitive locations, while markets, trade centres and educational institutes remain closed, while transport is suspended.
PM Shehbaz earlier on Sunday also spoke to the prime minister of AJK and directed the PML-N office bearers in the region to engage with the leaders of the action committee to find a peaceful resolution.
In a tweet, he expressed deep concern over the ongoing situation in AJK, urging all parties to adopt a peaceful course of action to resolve their demands.
The prime minister emphasized that while debate, discussion, and peaceful protests were beauty of democracy, there was no tolerance for taking the law into one’s own hands and damaging government properties.
“Unfortunately in situations of chaos and dissent, there are always some, who rush in to score political points,” he wrote on his X timeline. “Despite the efforts of detractors, the matter is expected to be settled soon.”
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari urged all the stakeholders to exercise restraint and resolve the issues in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) through dialogue and mutual consultation.
He stressed that the political parties, state institutions and the people of AJK should act responsibly so that hostile elements could not exploit the situation to their benefit.
The president expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation of members of the AJK Legislative Assembly belonging to PPP who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The delegation briefed the president about recent developments in AJK. The president highlighted that the demands of the people of AJK should be addressed as per law, adding that he would take up their grievances with the prime minister to find a way out of the current situation.
The president regretted the current situation and offered condolences over the unfortunate death of the police officer and prayed for swift recovery of all those who were injured in recent clashes.