Shehbaz 'deeply concerned' over AJK protests

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while expressing concerns over the situation in Azad Kashmir has said that some people intended to point scoring for their vested interests, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sharing his message on X expressed deep concerns over the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said, unfortunately, in a situation of chaos and disagreement, some people wanted to score points.

Prime Minister said debate. Dialogue and peaceful protest were the beauty of democracy. However, no one should be allowed to take law into one's own hands and damage public property.

Deeply concerned about the situation in AJK.

Unfortunately in situations of chaos and dissent there are always some who rush in to score political points. While debate, discussion and peaceful protests are the beauties of democracy , there should be absolutely no tolerance for…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 12, 2024

PM Shehbaz said he had talked to the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the officials of PML-N Azad Kashmir chapter to hold talks with the leaders of the action committee. Prime Minister urged all parties to resort to dialogue to resolve their demands. He hoped that the matter would be resolved soon.

See also: Strike against inflation in AJK

Clashes between the protestors, observing wheel jam and a shutter-down strike on the call given by the Joint Awami Action Committee in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and other cities of the region on the second consecutive day, and the police were reported from different parts of Muzaffarabad.

The protestors lost their temper when they found out that a heavy contingent of the police had been deployed on the routes leading to the Medina Market where the action committee had planned a gathering for them.

They pelted the police personnel with stones in several areas of the city, including Tonga Stand, Aziz Chowk, and Shah Sultan.

The police retaliated and fired teargas shells at the protestors to disperse them.

The roads in Muzaffarabad were deserted as all educational institutions, offices, and business centers in the city remained closed on the second day of the strike.

Same was the case with the roads connecting different cities of the AJK with each other as well as with Pakistan.

On the other hand, one of the committee members alleged that the police carried out raids on people’s homes late Friday night, took several innocent youths into custody and subjected them to severe torture at police stations.

He was of the view that such tactics of the government would turn the youth violent.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muzaffarabad Nadeem Janjua told the media that 28 people were arrested yesterday for throwing stones at the police and damaging vehicles. “Dozens of cops were injured in clashes with the protestors,” he elaborated.

Making it clear that the protection of the lives and properties of the people was the government’s top priority, the DC said he would not let anybody take the law into his own hands.

Janjua informed that the government had chalked out a complete strategy to ensure implementation on section 144 as well as open roads for traffic. He asked the people of the AJK to point out to the law-enforcement agencies the troublemakers. The committee had given a call for the strike in order to push the government for the provision of flour and electricity at cheaper rates.

Reporter: Awais Kiyani