AJK protesters end strike after govt accepts charter of demands
Pakistan
AJK PM calls subsidies a special connection of Centre with the region
- AJK government swiftly notifies cut in prices of bread and electricity
- The federal government also approves Rs23 billion grant to douse flames of anguish
- Protest turned violent and resulted in casualties
MUZZAFARABAD (Dunya News) – The Awami Action Committe (AAC) on Tuesday called off the protest after the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) accepted the charter of demands.
On Monday, Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said the state government had accepted all demands of the Awami Action Committee (AAC). His announcement came as the protests in support of affordable bread and electricity entered the fourth day.
Three protesters were killed and six others injured when LEAs opened fire and teargassed protesters.
While highlighting that the Centre assured its complete support to provide relief to the masses, PM Anwar said, “No one can reject two fundamental demands regarding roti [bread] and electricity.”
Afte the acceptance of all demands by the protesters, the AJK government issued a notification and expressed the hope that peace would be restored in the area.
According to the notification, the flour price has been reduced from Rs3,100 to Rs2,000 per 40 kilogramme.
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Meanwhile, the electricity prices will be Rs3 per unit for usage between 1-100 units, Rs5 per unit for usage between 100-300 units and Rs6 per unit for the 300-above units.
Also, commercial rates of electricity have been fixed at Rs10 per unit for 1-300 unit slab and for 300 or above slab, it has been fixed at Rs15 per unit.
PM Anwar called the announced package in response to protests a ‘special connection’ of Pakistani government with the region.
He announced that Islamabad would provide Rs23 billion funds to the AJK government.
To cater to the demands of protesters, the federal government approved a grant of Rs23 billion to calm the situation In a meeting presided over by PM Shehbaz Sharif.
VIOLENCE
Despite the government's initiative to placate the masses, protests turned violent. The violence claimed lives of three people as paramilitary forces resorted to firing and teargassing in the capital Muzaffarabad.
LEAs, who were called in to restore calm, faced public wrath while returning via Muzaffarabad after the government agreed to the the Awami Action Committee demands.
Protesters pelted 19-vehicle convoy with stones near Shorran da Nakka village. They also set three vehicles on fire. In response, the force resorted to firing.
After entering the city through the Western Bypass, the LEAs came under attack again and they started firing bullets and tear gas as a result of which three people were killed and six injured.
In the meanwhile, the civil administration reached the site and drove LEAs out of the area.
It may be recalled that after the talks’ failure on Sunday night, the committee had asked the protesters to resume their march on the state capital.
The rallies made a stopover in Dhirkot, about 80km from the capital, and the administration negotiated with their leaders on Monday. In the meantime, the government announced a subsidy and the leaders said they would decide about it after the issuance of notifications.
As the participants in the march waited for their leaders’ announcement, they clashed with police deployed at Chattar Chowk, who resorted to teargas shelling to disperse them.
Shaukat Nawaz Mir, one of the key protester leaders, said their legal team would examine the notifications issued by the government and the committee would decide the next course of action.
