MUZAFFARABAD/ISLAMABAD:
At least nine people, including three police officers, were killed after violence broke out in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on the third day of a general strike convened by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) for public reforms and facilities in the region, officials said Wednesday.
According to media reports, companies and other activities remained closed in AJK due to the strike in the middle of a communications blackout, while the incidents of violence took place in Dhir Kot and other areas. AJK’s government said 172 police and 50 civilians had also suffered injured in the clashes.
The AJK government said in a statement that the authorities were working to restore the order and urged the public not to be deceived by what they described as propaganda and “false news” that circulate on social networks under a “specific agenda.”
Directed by the central leader of Jaac Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the strike led Muzaffrabad, Mirpur, Poonch, Neelum, Bhimber and Palandri to a dead point. The markets closed, roads and internet services were blocked, they were largely restricted from Muzaffrabad, except in areas that border Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
According to reports, three police officers were killed and another nine injured during an attack by armed men belonging to Jaac in Dhir Kot. The martyrdom police were identified as agent Khurshid and Agent Jameel, both from Bagh, and Agent Tahir Rafi de Muzaffrabad.
The Jaac, who organized the strike and the protests, has established a large letter of demands, including the end of the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees and the scrapping of the quota system.
The other demands of the committee include free and uniform education throughout the territory, free health facilities, reforms in the judicial framework of AJK and the establishment of an international airport.
The authorities pointed out that both the Pakistan government and the AJK government had already accepted most of the JAAC’s demands during previous negotiations. However, the conversations finally collapsed when the agreement on some remaining problems could not be achieved.
This led to Jaac to ask for protests and a strike, which entered his third consecutive day on Wednesday. Commercial activity in every AJK is still severely interrupted, while all entry points that link Cashmiro with Pakistan have been sealed by protesters.
The reports of several cities indicate sporadic but intense clashes between protesters and police forces, with demonstrations that frequently become violent. The authorities said that in several incidents, protesters opened fire against police personnel.
The residents described closed markets, deserted roads and a tense atmosphere through Muzaffrabad, Rawalakot and other key cities. Commercial activity has stopped, worsening economic difficulties in the region.
In the midst of the growing tensions, AJK’s prime minister, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, extended an invitation open to Jaac’s leadership for renewed conversations. He said that Jaac had originally announced peaceful manifestations, but the situation had “taken a dangerous turn.”
“Three police officers have been martyred and 10 more injured due to the dismissals of violent protesters,” Haq told reporters at a joint press conference together with Federal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry in Islamabad.
“It is also evident that the protesters of outside Ajk have joined the agitation. If this had been limited to our own people, perhaps the issues would not have increased so far,” he said. “I call the [JAAC] Leadership to present yourself for dialogue. Violence will only bring bloodshed, not solutions. “
Chaudhry emphasized that the government was prepared to accept the “legitimate demands” of protesters. He added that in September, 90% of Jaac’s demands had already been agreed, but the committee still appealed to agitation.
Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry echoed these feelings. He confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered him, together with Federal Minister of Cashmir Affairs, Engir Muqam, to commit directly to Jaac’s leadership in Muzaffrabad.
He clarified that only two unsolved problems remained: the abolition of the seats of the Refugee Assembly and a reduction in the number of ministers, which required constitutional amendments and could not be implemented immediately.
Prime Minister Haq expressed his pain for the loss of lives, saying: “Provoke people through civil groups leads only to anarchy and an unnecessary tragedy. Taking a life is like taking away the lives of all humanity. We must avoid a path that brings more bloodshed.”
According to the AJK government statement, 172 police officers were injured in the violent protests, including 12 critically, while 50 civilians were also injured. He appealed to the public to refrain from violence.
(With news desktop information)
