ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday constituted a high-level negotiation committee to engage with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) amid ongoing protests and unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The committee includes senior political leaders from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), among them Rana Sanaullah, federal ministers Sardar Yousaf and Ahsan Iqbal, former AJK President Masood Khan, and PPP leaders Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
The move follows violent protests in Muzaffarabad that left three policemen dead and caused widespread disruption across AJK, including a strike and a communication blackout.
JAAC invited for talks as three policemen killed in AJK
The unrest erupted after talks over issues such as elite privileges and reserved refugee seats between the JAAC, the AJK government, and federal representatives broke down.
Earlier, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry was dispatched to Muzaffarabad to initiate dialogue with protesters, resulting in partial concessions. However, new demands subsequently emerged, escalating tensions.
In a statement posted on X, the prime minister, currently in London, expressed deep concern over the law and order situation and urged law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint.
He called on citizens to maintain peaceful and democratic conduct during protests, stressing that dialogue remains the most effective means to resolve differences.
“Peaceful protest is a constitutional and democratic right, but protesters should refrain from actions that disrupt public order,” he said.
The committee has been tasked with submitting immediate recommendations for resolving the issues in AJK. The prime minister is expected to personally oversee the negotiation process upon his return.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed the start of formal talks between the government delegation and JAAC representatives in Muzaffarabad.
Leaders from both sides underscored the importance of dialogue. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal warned of elements seeking to destabilize the region for their own agendas, while PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf expressed hope that just demands would be addressed promptly to restore calm.
Rana Sanaullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, both part of the negotiating team, reiterated that violence was not a solution and expressed confidence that misunderstandings could be resolved through dialogue.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior, headed by Mohsin Naqvi, convened a meeting in Islamabad to consider further measures to defuse tensions in AJK. Prime Minister Sharif has also ordered transparent investigations into incidents during the protests and directed immediate assistance for affected families.
The government has appealed to JAAC leadership for cooperation with the negotiation committee to facilitate a peaceful resolution.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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