KARACHI: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday invited the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to dialogue in a bid to ease the unrest triggered by protests in the region, which left three policemen dead.
A three-day shutter-down strike has paralysed AJK under a communications blackout, as JAAC presses its demands after talks with the AJK government and federal ministers broke down last week over elite privileges and reserved seats for refugees. Rival groups have since staged protests, trading blame for violence that marred what began as a largely peaceful movement.
Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad Wednesday, the AJK PM said that negotiations were a “civilised” way to achieve rights and that the government had invited the JAAC back to the table.
“This is a request to start from where the talks broke down,” Haq said. “Whenever it suits you, wherever the JAAC wants to talk, the state government is ready for talks. My ministers are ready in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Mirpur.”
The AJK PM stated that the territory has to “avoid chaos”.
“I said in 19 talk shows that you are not an organised political force,” Haq said, addressing the protesters. “There are nationalists and violent elements among you. Violence and brandishing sticks are not right in any way.” The AJK PM also expressed grief over the deaths of three policemen and injuries to over 100 others during the protests. He also mentioned that a school in Plak had been burned, stating that he had earlier said “this protest would not be peaceful”.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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