Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman urged the government on Saturday to recognize the gravity of the protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and pursue reconciliation following deadly clashes in Rawalakot.
Mediation Efforts and Government Stance
The JUI-F chief stated that a sit-in by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had continued for more than two months. According to Fazl, after tensions escalated on June 5, the committee approached him in writing to act as a mediator between the protesters and the government. He maintained contact through JUI-F AJK chief Maulana Saeed Yousaf Khan and Sardar Kamran Azam Khan, but alleged that the government did not give the mediation efforts due importance and remained unwilling to pursue a political solution.
Clashes and Casualties Reported
The statements follow reports of clashes between law enforcement personnel and the proscribed JAAC protesters in Rawalakot, with multiple deaths and injuries circulating on social media. Both security forces and the JAAC claimed the loss of lives during the confrontations. Fazl alleged that the government used force against unarmed protesters, claiming that the number of martyrs has reached 80, and accused authorities of showing no mercy toward the people of AJK.
Did You Know? The JAAC sit-in in Azad Jammu and Kashmir had continued for more than two months before the committee approached Maulana Fazlur Rehman in writing on June 5 to act as a mediator between the protesters and the government.
Call for Restraint and Regional Spread
Despite the violence, the JUI-F chief urged the JAAC to remain patient and give more time for a solution. He warned that the movement has spread across Kashmir and is drawing support in other parts of Pakistan and among the Kashmiri diaspora, particularly in Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is mediating between the protesters and the government?
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman accepted a written request from the JAAC to act as a mediator.
What triggered the latest appeal from the JUI-F chief?
The appeal followed clashes between law enforcement personnel and proscribed JAAC protesters in Rawalakot, which resulted in reported deaths and injuries.
How has the movement expanded beyond Azad Jammu and Kashmir?
According to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the movement has spread across Kashmir and is drawing support in other parts of Pakistan and among the Kashmiri diaspora in Europe.