Shutter down and wheel-jam strikes are being observed today across the region to protest the electricity price hike and taxes.
MUZAFFARABAD: Following violent clashes on Saturday between the police and the Awami Action Committee (AAC) protestors, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said that the government has reached an agreement with the Awami Action Committee (AAC) after holding talks.
AJK PM said the government held negotiations with the AAC and we are prepared to alleviate the burden of high flour and electricity prices. The Awami Action Committee has reiterated that the indefinite wheel jam strike will persist until their demands are met.
The development comes after the wheel-jam and shutter-down strike against electricity price hikes and taxes entered the third day in Muzaffarbad, Mirpur, and other cities in AJK.
The situation escalated leaving at least one police official dead in Mirpur and more than 90 others injured across the valley, officials said.
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PM Haq added that political governments solve problems through dialogue and “we are ready to talk with the Awami Action Committee at any level and the demands related to the government of Pakistan will be raised before the federation.”
Speaking about the incident, the Prime Minister said that a policeman was martyred due to the protests, however, the AJK police are showing patience as public security is their priority.
He also indicated a willingness to slash the development budget if necessary to provide relief in flour and electricity prices.
President Zardari summons emergency meeting
Sources said that President Asif Zardari also called an emergency meeting today on the situation in Azad Kashmir as the shutter-down strike and the Awami Action Committee protest entered its third day.
The meeting with ministers and party leaders called to assess the current situation and the president instructed stakeholders to bring proposals to resolve the issue, sources said.
Azad Kashmir protest enters its third day
The protest movement of the Awami Action Committee entered its third day after it took a violent turn on Saturday as clashes between law enforcement personnel and protesters emerged.
Shutter down and wheel-jam strikes are being observed today across the region to protest the electricity price hike and taxes.
The violent clashes led to damage to multiple vehicles, including a magistrate’s car on the Poonch-Kotli road. Moreover, markets, trade centers, offices, schools, and restaurants remained closed across the AJK.
The AJK government had banned public gatherings, rallies, and processions in all districts in the wake of AAC protests, with Section 144 imposed in the entire region.
Moreover, Mobile phone and internet services have been suspended in different parts of AJK today including Bhimber, Bagh, Mirpur, and Muzaffarabad.
AJK Peoples Party President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin said that the demands of the protestors should be met. “Wheat flour and electricity are cheap in Gilgit Baltistan, then why can’t it be cheap in AJK? he questioned.
“Peoples Party condemns the use of force, arrests, and violence against the people and all such policies of the AJK government,” he added.
Pakistan Muslim League (N) Azad Kashmir’s Additional Secretary General Zulfiqar Ali Malik said that the AJK PM’s wrong strategy has led to the recent environment of protests.
“No one is ready to trust PM Haq and most of the members are in the assembly based on fake mandate,” he said, adding that AJK belongs to political and ideological people.
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