Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken strong notice of the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and announced the formation of a high-powered committee to negotiate with the Awami Action Committee (AAC).
The government has already accepted 36 out of 38 AAC demands, while the 37th demand requires a constitutional amendment and the 38th demand for special perks has been declared contradictory and unjustified.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken direct notice of the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), expanding the high-powered negotiation committee to urgently address the crisis.
The committee now includes Senator Rana Sanaullah, Federal Ministers Sardar Yousaf and Ahsan Iqbal, former AJK President Masood Khan, and Qamar Zaman Kaira. It has been tasked to immediately visit Muzaffarabad and engage with AAC leaders.
Out of 38 AAC demands, the government has already accepted 36. The 37th demand — allocation of 2 refugee seats out of 12 — requires a constitutional amendment. The 38th demand regarding unmerited perks and privileges has been called contradictory, since AAC leaders seek exclusive benefits for themselves while demanding the withdrawal of perks for government officials nationwide.
PM Shehbaz Sharif urged citizens to remain peaceful, stressing that while protest is a democratic right, disruption of law and order and damage to public property will not be tolerated.
“The ball is now in AAC’s court,” a government minister said, calling on its leaders to engage in constructive talks.
