Protests Mark President Naqi’s 1st Visit to Native Sudhnoti

MUZAFFARABAD: Protests, road blockades and reported police action marked newly elected President Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi’s first visit to his native Sudhnoti district on Saturday, underscoring the continuing unrest in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir despite government assertions that negotiations with protest groups are nearing a breakthrough.

The President’s convoy remained stranded for several hours in Kahuta tehsil of Rawalpindi district after protesters blocked routes leading towards Palandri, the headquarters of Sudhnoti.

Local sources said a faction of the Awami Action Committee, locally known as the “Aman Group,” blocked roads at several points early Saturday to protest the President’s visit.

There were also reports of firing from surrounding hill areas, though these accounts could not be independently verified.

A heavy police contingent was deployed to clear the blocked roads. Near the Azad Pattan bridge, one person was reportedly injured when police opened fire during a confrontation with protesters.

A large number of young people also gathered at Kotli Chowk in Sudhnoti and raised slogans against the government. Local sources alleged that police used tear gas and opened fire while attempting to disperse the protesters. There was no immediate detailed official account of the incidents.

With the routes to Palandri blocked, President Naqi’s convoy remained at a hotel in Kahuta for several hours.

His stay there was later turned into a reception, with residents showering flower petals on him and decorating his vehicle with flowers before the convoy resumed its journey.

Speaking on the occasion, Naqi said the affection shown by the people was a source of honour and encouragement for him. He said maintaining direct contact with the public would remain among his priorities and promised practical steps to address people's problems.

Naqi, who was elected President on September 24, belongs to Sudhnoti district. Saturday’s visit was his first to his home district after assuming office.

The visit came against the backdrop of continuing negotiations over the protest movement that has gripped parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

During an informal interaction with journalists in Islamabad on Friday, Naqi said agreement had already been reached on most of the demands raised by the Action Committee and that only a few issues remained unresolved. He said the dispute was close to a settlement.

Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq also said on Saturday that the government was working to resolve the crisis.

Fiding Solution

Farooq acknowledged that a problem existed and said the focus should now be on finding solutions rather than debating whether the protesters’ demands were justified.

He said people holding different views were present within the protest movement and bringing them onto a common platform remained a challenge for the government. He added that efforts were continuing away from the media spotlight and expressed hope that a positive development could emerge soon.

However, the scenes in Sudhnoti appeared to contrast sharply with the conciliatory messages coming from senior government figures.

On the same day, the government sought to demonstrate political support in neighbouring Kotli district, where Prime Minister Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani was welcomed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz workers and supporters at several places, including Holar, Badli Chowk in Sehnsa and Gulpur.

Supporters beat drums, showered flower petals and raised slogans in favour of the Prime Minister. At Badli Chowk, a reception was led by legislator Raja Muhammad Asif, while party workers also gathered at Gulpur to receive the Prime Minister.

Gillani later reached a public meeting in Kotli, where he was taken to the venue in a traditional horse-drawn carriage.

Speaker Tariq Farooq and several ministers and legislators accompanied him.

The contrasting scenes in Kotli and Sudhnoti illustrated the challenge confronting the new government as it seeks to restore political normalcy while simultaneously negotiating with groups involved in the continuing protest movement.

In Rawalakot, meanwhile, hundreds of students also joined a protest organised by a students’ alliance, indicating that the agitation is no longer confined to political activists and traders but continues to draw participation from different sections of society.

The developments come as the Joint Awami Action Committee prepares to observe October 4 as a “Black Day” and announce the next phase of its campaign.

The committee had earlier asked residents to stock essential supplies ahead of October 4, raising concerns that another prolonged phase of protests and shutdowns could follow if negotiations fail to produce an agreement.

The unrest in Sudhnoti has also highlighted apparent differences within the protest movement.

The central Joint Awami Action Committee distanced itself from Saturday’s protest against the President’s visit, suggesting that all groups involved in the wider agitation are not following a common strategy.

Reports of some local Action Committee figures in other districts distancing themselves from the organisation have further pointed to divisions within the movement at a time when the government is attempting to reopen channels of dialogue.

For Naqi, Saturday’s visit carried particular political significance. Sudhnoti is his home district, and following his election as President there had been expectations that his local roots and political connections could help bridge the widening gap between the government and disgruntled groups.

Instead, the road blockades, protests and reports of police action during his first visit have presented an early test of that role.

The government continues to insist that a negotiated settlement is within reach. But with protests continuing on the ground and the Joint Awami Action Committee preparing to announce its next course of action, the coming days are likely to determine whether dialogue can contain the unrest or whether Pakistan-administered Kashmir is heading towards another round of confrontation.