AJK Legal fraternity voices concern over Sept. 29 strike call by J&K Joint Awami Action Committee in AJK:

Kashmir - آزاد جموں کشمیر , / Monday, September 22nd, 2025

Altaf Hamid Rao.

AJK legal fraternity:

MIRPUR ( AJK) September. 22: Leaders of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, High Court Bar Association, and District Bar Association has voiced concern over the September 29 call by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee and the statements of certain AJK Administration’s representatives.

Our Special Jammu Kashmir State Correspondent Altaf Hamid Rao reports from Mirpur that while addressing a press conference at the Kashmir Press Club here on Monday the lawyers’ leadership said they support peaceful protest for the resolution of public grievances and legitimate demands, but will not endorse any attempt to use such demonstrations as a cover for violence or confrontation.

Vice Chairman Bar Council Aqab Hashmi Advocate urged the government to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue without delay. Condemning the recent firing incident allegedly involving a government minister in Rawalakot, he said the lawyers’ community stood ready to extend its services to facilitate negotiations. “The state’s role must be like that of a mother,” he said, lamenting that while perks and privileges for the elite were constantly enhanced, the hardships of common citizens were being neglected.

President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Javed Najam-us-Saqib Advocate underlined that the SCBA firmly believes in the supremacy of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the protection of civil rights. He recalled that in the past, the legal fraternity had launched and won a movement against a “black law” imposed by the government. “If the elite continue to live off taxpayers’ money while the poor are denied even basic healthcare, such an unjust arrangement cannot last,” he said. Quoting the maxim that “a system built on disbelief may survive, but a system built on injustice cannot,” he demanded that the government issue notifications within 24 hours to resolve legitimate issues.

On behalf of the SCBA, he further declared that any ideological disruption, derogatory remarks against the country’s founding leaders, and incidents involving the lowering of Pakistan’s national flag are utterly condemnable. “Such acts are not supported by the Supreme Court Bar Association in any form,” he asserted, making clear that while peaceful protest is a constitutional right, anarchy and disrespect for national symbols cannot be tolerated.

President AJK High Court Bar Wasim Younas Advocate stressed the immediate implementation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. He reminded that the Joint Awami Action Committee’s movement had been initiated by lawyers in Mirpur but later passed into the hands of the public. “Had it remained with the legal fraternity, its course would have been different,” he observed. Urging both the government and the Action Committee to embrace peaceful negotiations, he warned that the August 5, 2019 tragedy still looms large. “There can be no politics without the state,” he said, calling for the redirection of state resources from official extravagance to public welfare.

President District Bar Chaudhry Mehmood Plakoi remarked: “If the state exists, we exist.” Addressing the Prime Minister, he demanded that the legitimate issues outlined in the charter of demands be addressed without delay, and cautioned political leaders against issuing intimidating statements.