Pakistani Government Delegation, Led by Raja Pervez Ashraf, Engages Protest Leaders in Azad Kashmir

Muzaffarabad (International Desk) A high-level Pakistani government delegation, led by former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, held talks with the Awami Action Committee (AAC) in Muzaffarabad on Thursday in an effort to defuse ongoing protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The delegation, which included Prime Minister of AJK Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, Federal Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, Amir Muqam, Sardar Yousaf, Tarik Fazal Chaudhry, and senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, engaged with AAC representatives to discuss solutions to the crisis.

Following the initial talks, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal told reporters that Pakistan “wants peace in Azad Kashmir, as hostile elements would not hesitate to exploit instability.” Amir Muqam described the dialogue as “constructive,” while the AAC leaders requested time to consult with their colleagues.

Qamar Zaman Kaira assured that the government supports the committee’s “legitimate demands,” adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is personally monitoring the issue. Raja Pervez Ashraf emphasized that “the only way forward is dialogue” and expressed hope for an early resolution.

Before leaving for Muzaffarabad, Ahsan Iqbal had said that the delegation was tasked by the Prime Minister to listen carefully to AAC’s concerns, warning that “certain actors are trying to sabotage Pakistan’s peace and stability.”

Prime Minister of AJK Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq thanked PM Shehbaz Sharif for “taking notice of the matter despite being abroad” and confirmed that talks would continue on the pending demands of the AAC.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tarik Fazal Chaudhry told a joint press conference with the AJK Prime Minister that “90% of AAC’s demands have already been accepted.”

The protests in Azad Kashmir, however, have already taken a violent turn. According to officials, six people, including three police officers, have been killed, and at least 72 policemen injured in the unrest.