rki.news

Altaf Hamid Rao

Local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday called on authorities to immediately lift what they described as unnecessary restrictions in Azad Jammu Kashmir, particularly in Mirpur, release detainees, and address growing public grievances.
Addressing a joint press conference at the Kashmir Press Club Mirpur, JI AJK Deputy Ameer Engineer Raja Khalid, Bashir Ahmed Shagoo, Muhammad Javed, Tanveer Ghazi and other party leaders alleged irregularities at entry points from Mangla to Mirpur. They claimed Punjab Police personnel were allowing vehicles carrying food and essential supplies to enter after receiving bribes, while ordinary citizens faced hardships.
The leaders said the people of Kashmir, who have consistently expressed support and affection for Pakistan, were being subjected to unnecessary difficulties. They maintained that Mirpur remained peaceful, with markets and business centres operating normally, and that residents were not involved in any activities disturbing law and order.
They questioned the continued closure of public services, including passport offices, NADRA centres, banks, internet services, and other government institutions, despite what they described as normal conditions in the city. They warned that such measures could create resentment between Kashmiris and Pakistanis and undermine long-standing historical and religious ties.
The JI leaders further claimed that daily life across parts of Azad Jammu Kashmir had been disrupted for 20 to 25 days and alleged that sections of the media were not accurately reporting the situation. They urged the federal and Punjab governments to review their policies and take practical steps to address public concerns.
Referring to the legacy of Syed Ali Gilani, they said measures that could damage Pakistan’s international image or provide space for hostile propaganda should be avoided. They also termed restrictions on food and essential goods as regrettable and called for transparent legal action against those responsible, along with the immediate release of innocent detainees.
Speaking on the occasion, social and political figure Dr Riaz Ahmed Chaudhry said his concerns reflected those of ordinary citizens. He argued that the suspension of internet services, closure of institutions and disruption of public life had created unnecessary hardship and could unintentionally encourage extremist elements.
He praised the Mirpur district administration for maintaining order but said continued service suspensions were unjustified. He urged authorities to resolve issues through dialogue, restore normalcy, and avoid measures that could further destabilize the region.