MUZAFFARABAD/ISLAMABAD; A high-level government delegation on Thursday reached Muzaffarabad by helicopter to hold crucial talks with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in a bid to end the ongoing turmoil in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The team is currently waiting to begin negotiations.
The unrest erupted after talks collapsed over elite privileges and reserved refugee seats, paralyzing the region under a communication blackout and triggering protests and violence.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing grave concern over the situation, directed the committee to urgently travel to AJK’s capital and work toward a lasting solution.
The delegation comprises Senator Rana Sanaullah, federal ministers Sardar Yusuf and Ahsan Iqbal, former AJK President Masood Khan, and PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira, among others.
Speaking before departure, Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that while the government was determined to resolve issues, hostile elements might exploit the unrest to destabilize Pakistan.
AJK PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq welcomed the initiative and expressed hope that JAAC leaders would also cooperate in ending the impasse. PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf termed dialogue the only way forward, stressing that “the pain of the Kashmiri people is our pain.”
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah reiterated that violence is not a solution and pledged that all matters would be resolved in line with the law and Constitution.
The Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement, appealed to citizens to remain peaceful and assured that peaceful protest is a constitutional right. However, PM Shehbaz also urged restraint, ordering a transparent inquiry into the protests that left three policemen dead, along with immediate assistance for the victims’ families.
The premier also announced the expansion of the negotiation committee to speed up efforts for peace in AJK.
