JI Emir Voices Concern Over AJK Situation
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday expressed deep concern over the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), warning that if peace is not given an opportunity, divisions could emerge that may never be healed. Addressing a joint news conference with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai in Islamabad, Naeem said the overall political situation in the country, particularly in AJK, was discussed.
Naeem stated that JI had offered to mediate between the government and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), but stressed that mediation would only be possible if both sides agreed. "We are deeply concerned about the situation in Azad Kashmir. If peace is not given an opportunity, a rift could emerge that may never be repaired," he said, emphasizing that any dialogue must take place within Pakistan's constitutional and legal framework.
Background of the Crisis
Ahead of the July 27 elections in AJK, the JAAC had called for widespread protests demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the region's Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from occupied Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947. The JI chief said it was imperative to work for the country's stability and the Kashmir cause, but regretted that the government's actions had failed to produce positive results.
He urged authorities to take steps that would restore public confidence, noting that maintaining peace in AJK was essential for Pakistan's international standing. Naeem expressed hope that efforts to resolve the crisis would prove fruitful. He observed that public anger stemmed from the failure to respect the people's electoral mandate, adding that future talks would address the root causes of the crisis while remaining within Pakistan's constitutional framework.
Achakzai and Khokhar Weigh In
Speaking on the occasion, Mahmood Khan Achakzai said Pakistan was facing an unprecedented crisis, questioning whether the country's difficulties were the result of external factors or its own shortcomings. He said the Constitution guaranteed the right to peaceful protest and noted a widening gap between the government and the JAAC. "We will play whatever role we can. We must understand why the people of Kashmir have reached this point," Achakzai said, adding that all stakeholders should engage in self-reflection.
Former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, also present, said Naeem had taken the initiative to help resolve the "grave crisis" in AJK, adding that the situation had caused concern across Pakistan. He said the political process in AJK had been undermined and claimed that if elections were held today, the current rulers would not enjoy public confidence. Khokhar blamed both the PML-N and the PPP for contributing to the current situation, saying Defence Minister Khawaja Asif's recent remarks had further inflamed tensions.
