AJK protesters call it off a day after ‘demands met’

An alliance of civil rights groups on Tuesday called off its protest march over high prices in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), after their demands were met by the government, following several days of clashes in which four people were killed and over 100 injured, officials said.

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which had led the protest march since Thursday, called off the march a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a grant of 23 billion to help meet most of their demands, including subsidies on flour and electricity prices.

Shaukat Nawaz Mir, JAAC leader announced the decision in Muzaffarabad. “The government has accepted all of our demands,” he said, calling on protesters to return to their homes and businesses. He, however, urged the government to pay compensation to the families of three deceased protesters.

Three protesters were killed on Monday evening after law-enforcement personnel opened fire when they were attacked, said local government official Adnan Khurshid. On Saturday, a policeman died in violent clashes between the protesters and the police in Mirpur.

A spokesperson for JAAC congratulated the people of Kashmir for organising a successful and peaceful rally, attributing their determined efforts to a “historic win”. He also said that they would observe a shutter-down strike until 3pm as a mark of respect for those who lost lives during the protests.

In response to the successful protests, the government agreed to subsidise the price of wheat by Rs1,100 for every 40 kilograms,” the spokesperson said. He added that the government had also agreed to subsidise electricity prices for commercial and residential users.

JAAC started its march on Thursday, seeking provision of electricity as per hydropower generation cost, subsidised wheat flour, and an end to the privileges for the elite class. The alliance announced a strike for Friday as the AJK police blocked the arteries leading to Muzaffarabad.

On Saturday, violent clashes between the police and JAAC activists erupted in Mirpur. A local government official told Reuters that one police official was killed and over 90 were injured when thousands of people clashed with police.

On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered immediate release of Rs23 billion to resolve the problems facing the people of AJK, envisaging massive subsidies on flour and electricity tariffs in the wake of ongoing protests against inflation in the region.

Shehbaz, while chairing cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Shehbaz announced that he would visit Muzaffarabad within a few days to hold further consultations over the issue. He said he felt “immense pain” that few people lost their lives during the protest, besides the damage caused to buildings.

Read Cop dies in AJK clashes over high power tariff

“It was a very unfortunate incident,” the prime minister said, adding that a police officer also lost his life, besides a number of personnel of law-enforcement agencies were also hurt. The prime minister and the members of the cabinet offered Fateha for the departed souls.

Shehbaz further said that he held meetings on the AJK issue and with President Asif Ali Zardari, political leaders of the allied parties and their leaders of AJK chapters, the AJK leadership and parliamentarians for their support and deliberations leading to decisions over the demands of protestors.

“With consensus, the demands and requirements of the protestors were met and the federal government announced a Rs23 billion package for the people of AJK,” he said. “Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan as declared by Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah,” he added.

He said that he spoke to the AJK Prime Minister Anwarul Haq over the incidents of violence and stressed that voices of the public representatives should be heard and issues be resolved through dialogue. He appreciated the AJK government for showing restraint as few elements were out to create chaos.v