Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday took strict notice of ongoing protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir—now entering their third day—and issued an appeal for citizens to remain peaceful.
The unrest broke out after the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC)’s announced a region-wide strike to push the government to accept its demands. The protests turned violent on Wednesday, leaving at least nine people dead, including three policemen, as protesters clashed with law enforcers. According to local journalists, nearly 200 people have been injured.
The JKJAAC is demanding the AJK government end elite privileges and reserved seats for refugees, as well as lowered tariffs for electricity and a new international airport. The protests have seen rival groups facing off, blaming each other for the violence.
Amidst the rising casualties, the prime minister has strongly appealed to citizens to remain peaceful. Stressing that peaceful protest is a constitutional and democratic right of every citizen, he has called on the demonstrators to refrain from causing harm to public order.
Sharif, in his statement, directed law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and patience with the protesters. He said respect for public sentiments must be ensured and any unnecessary harshness should be avoided, adding the government is always ready to resolve the issues of its Kashmiri brothers.
Expressing deep concern over the unfortunate incidents during the protests, the prime minister ordered a transparent investigation into the matter. He also directed immediate assistance for the families affected by the protest demonstrations.
At the government level, Sharif has expanded the negotiation committee for a peaceful resolution of the issue, incorporating Senator Rana Sanaullah, federal ministers Sardar Yusuf and Ahsan Iqbal, former president of AJK Masood Khan, and PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira. The committee has been directed to 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 Action Committee to cooperate with the government’s negotiation committee. The statement says the committee would send its recommendations and proposed solutions to the Prime Minister’s Office without delay so that measures can be taken for the immediate resolution of the issues. He has vowed to oversee the negotiation process upon his return to the country.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, AJK P.M. Chaudhry Anwarul Haq stressed on negotiations being the only way to achieve a “civilized and peaceful” resolution to the crisis.
The protests have seen large parts of AJK shuttered, including in capital Muzaffarabad. On Neelum Bridge, police clashed with protesters, with witnesses saying protesters had hurled stones at police, who responded with tear gas shelling and gunfire. The protesters claim police opened fire on them, while police say they were attacked by the demonstrators.
During his press conference, the AJK prime minister said the JKJAAC was not an organized political force, and comprised both nationalists and violent elements. He said the use of violence and force by them could never be justified. “I warn again that violent protests only lead to chaos; therefore, it’s essential that we talk,” he said, maintaining that “90%” of their demands had already been accepted.
“There is a deadlock over the reserved seats for refugees, which cannot be abolished in the context of the Kashmir freedom movement,” he acknowledged. He said the AJK’s cabinet members are in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Mirpur and are fully prepared for dialogue.
Minister Chaudhry agreed with the AJK prime minister that 90% of the protesters’ demands had been accepted. He, too, said, abolishing refugee seats and reducing the number of ministers required legislation.