President Zardari calls for restraint, dialogue amid unrest in AJK

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has asked all stakeholders in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to demonstrate restraint and resolve issues through dialogue and mutual consultation.

He said that he will talk to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address the grievances of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and find a solution to the current situation.

A delegation of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly met with President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday.

The delegation informed the president of the recent tragic incidents in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the president expressed regret over the current situation.

During the meeting, the president instructed all stakeholders to show restraint and resolve the issues through dialogue and mutual consultation. He emphasized that political parties, state institutions, and the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir should act responsibly to prevent hostile elements from taking advantage of the situation.

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He stated that the demands of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir should be met in accordance with the law, and he will speak with the prime minister of Pakistan to address the complaints of the people and find a solution to the current situation.

Zardari stressed the need to bring remote areas at par with other developed regions of the country, highlighting that priority should be given to the social and economic development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including health, education, tourism, and infrastructure development.

He also expressed condolences over the death of a police officer during the recent clashes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and prayed for the speedy recovery of all those injured in the incidents.

It should be noted that during the ongoing protests and strike seeking cheap electricity and subsidized flour, agitated demonstrators and police confronted each other, leading to the police firing tear gas in response to stone-throwing people.

Due to the strike and protests, all business centres, offices and educational institutions across Azad Jammu and Kashmir remained closed for the last three days.

During the clashes between police and protesters on Friday and Saturday, at least one police officer was killed and 90 other individuals were injured.