rki.news
Altaf Hamid Rao

MIRPUR (AJK): August 4 (RKI): Legal fraternity representatives from all bar associations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir have called for protection of fundamental rights, restoration of civil liberties and immediate meaningful dialogue between the government and representatives of the ongoing public movement in the region.
The demand was made during a joint meeting of AJK bar associations held under the auspices of the District Bar Association Mirpur. Participants reviewed the prevailing situation, citizens’ freedoms, constitutional rights and the rule of law before issuing a unanimous declaration.
The lawyers urged the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the Government of Pakistan and relevant institutions to take immediate measures to address the situation. They said the legal community, as a guardian of the Constitution and fundamental rights, could not remain silent during the current circumstances.
The declaration called on Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Prime Minister of Pakistan Mian Shehbaz Sharif, policy-making institutions and the AJK government to begin unconditional and meaningful negotiations with the Joint Public Action Committee and other public representatives.
The bar associations stressed that talks should be conducted with mutual respect and sincerity, offering their role as neutral mediators and guarantors in the dialogue process.
They demanded the immediate release of protesters, political and social activists, and lawyers arrested during demonstrations. The lawyers said any legal action should be conducted through transparent and impartial judicial proceedings.
The declaration also called for an independent judicial inquiry into recent deaths and alleged firing incidents, with action against those found responsible under the law. It demanded an end to violence, restoration of communication services, free media access and protection of citizens’ right to information.
The lawyers further called for lifting restrictions on movement, ensuring uninterrupted transport services, providing assistance to families of those killed and improving medical facilities for the injured.
The meeting urged the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bar Council to announce a court boycott until August 15, 2026, and continue protest programmes. It warned that a wider representative meeting of bar associations from Azad Kashmir and Pakistan would be convened in Mirpur if demands were not addressed.
The declaration reaffirmed the legal community’s commitment to the Constitution, rule of law and protection of fundamental rights.