Nosheen Khawaja*
Muzaffarabad: Thousands of people are heading towards Muzaffarabad to stage a protest in front of the assembly building there, pressing the government to heed their demands after negotiations between officials of the government of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (PAK) and the Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee failed, according to Umar Nazir, a member of the committee.
Talks took place in the southern city of Rawalakot in PAK on Sunday night, involving Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq, senior minister retired Col. Waqar Noor, the Chief Secretary, and members of the Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee.
While the chief secretary was present in Rawalakot, the prime minister and senior minister joined via Zoom from Islamabad.
The negotiations concluded without any tangible outcome. Umar Nazir, who was present during the talks, emphasized three key demands: electricity priced at production cost, subsidized flour with a 20 kg bag priced at Rs 1000, and the reduction of perks and privileges enjoyed by the political and administrative elite according to court orders, which said that officials and public representatives should use 1300 cc cars.
Umar said that the government agreed to increase the subsidy on flour by Rs 1000, making it Rs 2000 per 20 kg bag. However, they were hesitant to commit to curbing privileges and reducing electricity tariffs to production costs, stating they needed time to discuss the issue with the government of Pakistan.
He mentioned that they had been protesting for the last year, and the government had ample time to resolve the issue but showed no interest. He mentioned they were not willing to give them more time. He also mentioned that the government of Azad Kashmir didn’t seem willing to provide relief to the people and was unwilling to compromise on their perks and privileges.
Deputy Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan told Kashmir Times, “We offered the action committee an increase in the subsidy on flour by Rs 1000, a reduction in electricity bills by 30%, and assured them that committees have been set up to examine the perks and privileges of ministers and members of the assembly, with decisions to be made accordingly.”
Another member of the Awami Action Committee, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, stated, “We were open to reconsidering our protest call if we received notifications regarding electricity, flour subsidies, and the privileges of the elite. However, when these demands remained unaddressed, we stood firm. We made it clear that partial solutions are unacceptable. If our demands are met, we are staying in Dhirkot overnight before proceeding to Muzaffarabad. There is ample time for discussion and issuance of notifications. We can get this notification even in Muzaffarabad. Our aim is not confrontation but rather the resolution of people’s grievances.”
He mentioned that a promising offer regarding flour subsidies has been proposed, but he declined to reveal further details at this time.
Eyewitnesses said that thousands of people arrived in Rawalakot on Sunday from different districts and are now en route to Muzaffarabad following the failed talks in Rawalakot city.
The protesters have reached Dhirkote, which is some 58 kilometers from Muzaffarabad city, where they will stay overnight and leave for Muzaffarabad on Monday morning.
Umar Nazir said that they were peacefully protesting, asserting that it is their right. He expressed hope that the government would refrain from using force against peaceful protesters. He warned that if the government used force, then it would be responsible for the situation.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif, expressed deep concern about the situation in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir. He said, “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 taking the law into one’s own hands and damaging government properties.”
He further said that he spoke to the Prime Minister of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir and also directed all PML-N office bearers in the region to talk to the leaders of the action committee.
He said, “I urge all parties to resort to a peaceful course of action for the resolution of their demands. Despite the best efforts of detractors, the matter will hopefully be settled soon.”
The government of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir announced a holiday for all educational institutions in Muzaffarabad district on Monday and district offices in Muzaffarabad city due to a wheel jam strike.
There have been shutter down, wheel jam strikes, and protests for the third consecutive day on Sunday. However, except for sporadic clashes between police and protesters, the situation remained largely calm in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.
A top police official said that one police officer was killed and nearly 80 policemen, including officers, were injured in clashes over three days since Thursday, with more than 60, including two DSPs, wounded on Friday alone, most of them in Kotli district.
However, they did not have details about how many civilians were wounded.
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