Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed deep concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after violent protests left three policemen dead, appealing to citizens to remain peaceful and instructing law enforcement agencies to exercise maximum restraint.
AJK has been paralysed by a three-day strike under a communications blackout after talks between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), the AJK government, and federal ministers broke down. The deadlock, centred on demands over elite privileges and reserved refugee seats, triggered rival demonstrations that spiraled into violence.
On Wednesday, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq and Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry invited the JAAC to resume dialogue. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior convened a key meeting in Islamabad to consider steps to defuse tensions.
Read More: Govt offers talks after three cops killed in AJK protests
“The prime minister has made a strong appeal to citizens to remain peaceful,” the PM Office said in a statement posted on X. “He has urged that peaceful protest is the constitutional and democratic right of every citizen, but protesters should refrain from causing harm to public order.”
Shehbaz directed security forces to show patience and avoid any unnecessary harshness. “Respect for public sentiments must be ensured,” the statement said, adding that the government was ready to address the concerns of “Kashmiri brothers.”
The premier also ordered a transparent investigation into the incidents, alongside immediate assistance for families affected by the unrest.
To pursue a political solution, Shehbaz expanded the government’s negotiation committee to include Senator Rana Sanaullah, Federal Ministers Sardar Yusuf and Ahsan Iqbal, former AJK President Masood Khan, and Qamar Zaman Kaira. The committee has been directed to proceed to Muzaffarabad without delay and present recommendations for an immediate and lasting resolution.
“The prime minister has appealed to the members and leadership of the JAAC to cooperate with the government’s negotiation committee so that steps can be taken for a peaceful settlement,” the statement added.