ISLAMABAD: Political leaders from Azad Jammu and Kashmir addressed a press conference in Islamabad on Saturday, issuing a powerful statement reaffirming the historic and unbreakable bond between Kashmiris and Pakistan, while firmly distancing themselves from the banned Joint Action Committee.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Attique, PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, and PPP AJK President Nabila Ayub collectively distanced the Kashmiri people from the proscribed organisation, which was formally declared illegal under anti-terrorism laws on June 5.
The leaders stressed that the overwhelming majority of Kashmiris remain steadfast in their commitment to Pakistan, countering the attempts by a handful of elements to sow division and unrest in the region.
“The relationship between Kashmiris and the Pakistan Army predates the creation of Pakistan itself,” said Sardar Attique, adding that “this bond is not dependent on any position or privilege.” He noted that the Pakistan government had demonstrated patience throughout the recent tensions, but made clear that “those who have committed crimes cannot escape the law.”
Shah Ghulam Qadir asserted that “99 per cent of Kashmiris today stand with Pakistan,” and condemned attempts to incite Kashmiri soldiers serving in the Pakistan Army to rebel against their own institution. He also highlighted that the government had provided cheaper flour and electricity to the people of AJK compared to Pakistan.
PPP leader Nabila Ayub warned that “a handful of people are working on an anti-Pakistan agenda” and that the Kashmiri people have nothing to do with them. “The Kashmiri people are patriotic and reject this narrative,” she said.
The press conference also featured a video presentation showing evidence of attacks by the banned group on security personnel, as well as its anti-state rhetoric and efforts to undermine the constitutional framework governing AJK’s relationship with Pakistan.
The leaders’ statements align with the government’s position that the banned group has deviated from its original demands on economic relief to pursue a wider agenda that challenges the constitutional architecture of AJK.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry had previously said the group was attempting to “sabotage free and fair elections” scheduled for July 27 and cautioned that “frequent protests were not an appropriate approach for medium- and long-term development plans” .
