Muzaffarabad:
The government’s negotiation committee has trained the Directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the Awami Joint Action Committee of Kashmir (JAAC) has reached a consensus on an agreement on Friday, the final document which should be signed soon.
The Federal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, confirmed that the end of finishing talks was underway, saying that “public interest and peace remain our main priorities”.
The Minister of Planning Ahsan Iqbal praised the breakthrough as a “victory for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and for democracy”. He said that under the supervision of the Minister of Kashmir, a permanent committee was set up to supervise the implementation of the agreement.
Iqbal has developed that the Committee met every 15 days to examine progress on requests. In addition, a panel of constitutional experts has been trained to examine the issue of refugee seats in the Legislative Assembly.
“The Committee of Constitutional Experts will examine all aspects of the issue and will make an acceptable decision to everyone. This is a constitutional question, and it will not be precipitated,” said Iqbal.
The second series of talks between the federal government’s negotiation team and the JAAC resumed around noon on Friday.
The Islamabad team, led by the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, had detailed discussions with JAAC members earlier during the day.
However, after several hours, the leaders of the Action Awami Committee left the place and went to Kohala, where thousands of demonstrators, mainly from the Poonch division, have been camped for days.
The leaders said they would consult the other members of the committee and the supporters before announcing their next action plan.
Chaudhry posted on X (formerly Twitter) that “positive progress” had been made and that several problems were discussed. However, speaking separately on a television news channel, the leader of the PML-N Senior Rana Sanaullah said that no final consensus had been reached with the JAAC so far.
In Kohala, the head of the action committee, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, addressed the demonstrators, urging them to stay patient until the internal consultations are finished. “We will deliberate separately, and once we have reached a consensus, we will present it before you for approval,” he told the crowd.
The confrontation has actually closed daily life in Azad Jammu and cashmere. The stores remain closed, commercial activity has stopped and internet and mobile services are suspended.
Public and private transport also remained outside the roads, the demonstrators blocking the main entry point in Kohala which links Ajk to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Long convoys of demonstrators extend from Kohala Chowk to Dhirkot, led by Jaac chief, Sardar Umar Nazir, Rawalakot.
The disorders also triggered manifestations of solidarity on a national and abroad. Friday, members of the Cashmere community organized demonstrations in front of the Karachi and Lahore press clubs, condemning the government’s repression against the demonstrators at the AJK.
Meanwhile, HRCP, in a post on X, said that he was deeply alarmed by the current violence at the AJK, where, at least nine people, including three police officers, lost their lives and hundreds were injured during the demonstrations.
“We strongly condemn the use of excessive force and the death of civilians and the police, as well as communication failures. Although the dialogue is essential, it cannot be significant in the midst of the continuous political priority of the people of the region.”
The Commission said that the right to peaceful protest must be maintained and the grievances discussed transparently.
“We urge federal governments and AJK to avoid additional escalation, to respect the fundamental rights of people and to engage in authentic and inclusive negotiations.
