On the call of Awami Action Committee, protest enters fifth day in Azad Kashmir whereas transport & other life affairs remained suspended

DHIRKOT, May 13 (SABAH): On the call of Awami Action Committee, the protest has entered in fifth day in Azad Kashmir whereas the transport and other life affairs remained suspended.

Long march of thousands of individuals from Mirpur, Kotli and Poonch reached Dhir Kot on Monday. Long march will enter Muzaffarabad from Kohala. After failure of negotiations on the previous day, the action committee announced to reach the state’s capital Muzaffarabad whereas to thwart any mishap the local government has announced leaves in schools and district offices. On Monday paramilitary troops have reached Muzaffarabad to control the situation.

According to “Mehtab Ashraf” from Dhir Kot, central road connecting Muzaffarabad and Islamabad, Kohala, considerable forces have been deployed. From Dhir Kot to Kohala, 50 kilometer area is completely packed with vehicles of protestors. Helicopters have also been seen in the area. Large number of police has been deployed in Muzaffarabad. Very small number of vehicles could be seen on the roads of the city.

Awami Action Committee Chief Shaukat Nawaz Mir while leaving Rawalakot talked with media persons and said that they have no political agenda. He said they are going Muzaffarabad for the rights of the people. He said the government has presented a good offer for decreasing the price of flour but he could not talk about it anymore.

He further said they are waiting for the notification from the government regarding acceptance of their demands. He said the government should handover to them the notification of accepting their demands for ending the present crisis.

Before this, on Sunday, negotiation failed between state government and Joint Awami Action Committee. Joint Awami Action Committee has been protesting for over one year regarding electricity bills, flour subsidy and other demands. After negotiation session, senior leader of Joint Action Committee Umar Nazeer had said that the government was not serious on demands while doing fraud with them.

Chief Secretary Azad Kashmir including 15 committee members were part of negotiation which remained continued for four hours. It is said that deadlock was done on issue of decrease in tariff of electricity.