https://arab.news/rxjqf
- Shehbaz Sharif met government negotiators after they reached deal with protesters in the region
- Six civilians and three policemen were killed in recent clashes over civil rights and governance issues
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said the government would resolve the issues faced by the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on priority after it reached an agreement with a civil rights alliance that led days of protests and unrest in the northern region.
The clashes erupted after the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) announced an indefinite “lockdown” last month to demand the removal of perks for government officials, the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri migrants from the Indian-administered side of the Himalayan territory and royalty payments for hydropower projects.
Protests turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police in several towns, leaving six civilians and three policemen dead. The crisis prompted the administration in Islamabad to dispatch a delegation to the territory to assist the regional administration in negotiations with the protesters.
“All matters in Kashmir have been resolved amicably, and the concerns of the Kashmiri people will be addressed,” Sharif said in a statement after meeting members of the federal negotiation committee.
“The government will continue taking measures to resolve the problems of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters,” he added, reaffirming that Pakistan had “always treated the issues of Azad Kashmir as a priority.”
The prime minister praised both the government committee and the JKJAAC for showing restraint and maturity during the talks, saying the alliance had demonstrated a “sense of understanding” in the interest of peace and prosperity in the region.
Sharif said his government remained committed to serving the people of AJK and protecting their rights, adding that public welfare and peace remained its foremost priorities.
He also reiterated that the federal government would keep working in line with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people to promote development and prosperity in the region.