AJK strike persists as Rawalakot protest loses momentum

MUZAFFARABAD: The standoff between law enforcement personnel and supporters of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Rawalakot appeared to ease on Monday, while a shutter-down strike continued across several parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for a seventh straight day.

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the main gathering at Eidgah Ground in Rawalakot had reduced significantly over the past few days. They said many participants from outside the area had quietly departed and that most of those still attending were residents of nearby localities who arrived later in the day and returned home at night.

One official said law enforcement personnel had engaged only armed activists and ruled out talks with the proscribed group. According to the official, members of the group would have to surrender or face legal action.

Authorities also eased curfew-like restrictions in parts of Rawalakot, allowing limited shop openings to facilitate residents. In other areas of AJK, including Muzaffarabad, commercial activity remained severely disrupted as markets stayed shut and both inter-city and intra-city public transport services remained suspended. Private cars and motorcycles, however, continued to move on largely deserted roads.

The prolonged suspension of internet services also disrupted banking operations, leaving many residents unable to withdraw cash. In some urban neighbourhoods, a small number of shops opened partially around sunset.

Reports from several districts also pointed to acute shortages of medicines at pharmacies after supply lines from Abbottabad and Rawalpindi were interrupted. At the same time, fruit and vegetable sellers using Suzuki pickup trucks had started serving customers in some localities.

A senior administration official said the government would not force traders to reopen their outlets but would support those willing to operate through mobile vending.

“If they do not want to open their shops, that is their choice. But they should not later object to the government allowing mobile vendors to do business,” he said.

Assembly session today

Separately, the AJK government has called a session of the Legislative Assembly for 2pm on Tuesday.

Legislative Assembly Secretary Amjed Latif Abbasi said the agenda included legislation to regularise ad hoc and B-1 employees in line with cabinet decisions taken on June 5. He said the House was also expected to take up resolutions concerning Pakistan’s role in facilitating peace talks between the United States and Iran, as well as the recent helicopter crash in Muzaffarabad.