PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday appealed to those protesting in Azad Jammu. Kashmir (AJK) to end their demonstrations, cautioning that the ongoing unrest was “damaging both the Kashmiri cause and Pakistan’s reputation”.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Bilawal — whose PPP is in government in AJK — noted that theimminent signingof the Pakistan-mediatedpeace pactbetween the United States. Iran “marks a historic moment”.
“At a time when the international spotlight is firmly on Pakistan, the ongoing unrest in Azad Jammu. Kashmir is damaging both the Kashmiri cause and Pakistan’s reputation,” the former foreign minister said.
He observed that the unrest was “also creating an unnecessary opportunity for hostile actors. the India-Israel nexus to exploit the situation for their own purposes”.
“I therefore appeal to all protestors to bring their demonstrations to a peaceful conclusion. Those individuals who have taken the law into their own hands should surrender themselves to the local authorities. allow due process to take its course,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chairman called for all political grievances and disagreements to be resolved through “democratic, constitutional, and peaceful means”.
“Parliament. the political process — not the streets — are the appropriate forums for addressing and settling such issues,” he stated.
Bilawal recalled that the PPP had already called upon the AJK Election Commission to withdraw its “premature election schedule”. which had set the pollsfor July 27.
“We remain committed to pursuing a political solution. would seek to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address outstanding grievances, move the process forward, and bring these matters to a just and lasting conclusion,” the PPP chairman said, stressing that the people of Kashmir “should not have to endure repeated cycles of protest, confrontation, and uncertainty”.
Apparently referring to theJune 5 decisionto ban the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Bilawal said: “If all stakeholders, including the federal government, are in agreement, the AJK government could, in due course, review the notifications issued in relation to protesting parties.
“While there can be no compromise when it comes to upholding the rule of law. holding accountable those who have engaged in unlawful acts, we are equally committed to ensuring that individuals who have done nothing wrong are not made to suffer the consequences of the actions of others,” he affirmed.
The situation in the region has been tense in the past few weeks as supporters of therecently proscribedJAAC have beenstaging protestsand observing a strike in various areas.
The AJK administration. the JAAC have been at odds over various issues, most notably the committee’s demand to abolish the12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assemblythat are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947.
On June 5, following theannouncementof the JAAC’s June 9 strike, the AJK government declared the body aproscribedorganisation.
A day later, AJK authoritieslaunched a crackdownon the JAAC, arresting scores of its leaders and activists from different areas.
On Saturday, two sit-ins by activists. supporters of the JAAC continued on the fringes of Rawalakot for thefourth consecutive day.
Most towns in Muzaffarabad Division. other parts of AJK observed a shutdown amid the continued suspension of public transport for the fifth consecutive day. There were also reports of partial strikes in Mirpur Division.
Mobile phone services in Rawalakot were suspended after 8:30pm.
Also on Saturday, the suspension of internet services entered its eighth day, to the exasperation of citizens, particularly students. freelancers, who urged the authorities to show mercy and restore the services in the interest of their education and livelihoods.
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