MUZAFFARABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan chapter on Friday announced to distance itself from the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) over what it described as ‘anti-Pakistan slogans’.
JI AJK-GB chief Dr Mushtaq Khan told a press conference that when the JAAC launched its movement, his party strongly supported it. “I myself, as the JI AJK chief, addressed their rally in Muzaffarabad,” he said.
He said that over time, two of our key demands were accepted, which meant the party’s agenda had been achieved. “But later, we saw some elements within JAAC ranks raising slogans against Pakistan and bringing down the Pakistani flag,” Dr Mushtaq said.
He further stated that the JAAC’s stance on the Kashmir freedom movement was not aligned with the vision of Kashmir’s heroes of independence but appeared more in line with that of “our occupier and killer India.”
“When these things came to light, we clearly directed every person associated with the Jamaat-e-Islami to continue their struggle from our own platform,” Dr Mushtaq said.
He clarified that the decision did not mean enmity with the JAAC. “We are pursuing a positive course of action and will not oppose any of the committee’s legitimate demands,” he said.
“However, we will not support any JAAC demands that are detrimental to the Kashmir freedom movement or to Pakistan’s interests,” he added.
The second round of negotiations between the federal government’s delegation and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of Azad Jammu and Kahmir is under way in Muzaffarabad in an effort to end the ongoing unrest in the territory.
Protests in AJK entered their fourth day on Friday, with shutter-down strike and wheel-jam protests continuing across the region.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had expressed deep concern over the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and ordered a transparent inquiry into the violent incidents. He had also appealed to the AJK citizens to remain peaceful.
At least 10 people have been killed and dozens critically injured in violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, officials and local sources said.