Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : The federal government and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government have once again invited the Joint Public Action Committee to come to the negotiating table. During a joint press conference held at Kashmir House Islamabad, Federal Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul-Haq, and other Kashmiri ministers confirmed the casualties and injuries in Azad Kashmir.
Federal Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry stated that the negotiations have not failed but were temporarily stalled due to the need for amendments in the Azad Kashmir constitution. He said that the demands were documented in writing after the talks and accepted. The government appointed its Chief Secretary as the focal person to move the process forward. He added that a review of the situation was planned after one month, and there is no ego or stubbornness from the government’s side.
AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said that people from Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, and other areas are also willing to come for talks, and the government is ready for negotiations. He emphasized that the government is acting with generosity to stop such incidents and to restore the dialogue process. He confirmed that four police officers have been martyred and around 150 people injured, with eight in critical condition.
The AJK Prime Minister thanked the Prime Minister of Pakistan, in his capacity as Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Council, for sending two federal ministers and personally monitoring the 13-hour-long negotiations. He said no one declared the talks a failure; rather, they faced a temporary halt. He expressed confidence that the dialogue process would soon resume as 90% of the issues have been resolved.
The government urged all parties to exercise patience and wisdom, stressing that violent incidents should end and problems should be resolved through dialogue and negotiations.
