MIRPUR (AJK) (APP): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has said that general elections scheduled for July 27 would be held on time, while reaffirming its commitment to public welfare, the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Speaking at a joint news conference in Mirpur, AJK government Spokesperson, Chaudhry Guftar Hussain and AJK Police spokesperson DIG, Irfan Masood Kashfi said both the the government has consistently prioritized dialogue, reconciliation and peaceful engagement in addressing public concerns.
The officials said that under an agreement reached on Oct. 4, 2025, the authorities accepted 38 demands put forward by the now-banned Awami Action Committee as the broader public interest. They alleged, however, that the group later shifted from pursuing public-interest demands to activities considered anti-state, leading to its ban under the law. The spokesmen said a 36-day sit-in disrupted the supply of food, medicines and other essential goods across Poonch Division. They added that blockades on highways and connecting roads restricted public movement and caused shortages of basic necessities in several areas.
Kashfi said the government had a constitutional and moral obligation to restore access to public roads and ensure the uninterrupted movement of the people. He said that security forces encountered resistance and came under gunfire while attempting to reopen the blocked routes.
The officials also pointed out that trucks carrying food supplies were attacked and that incidents of fuel theft and looting occurred during the protests, adding such actions could not be described as peaceful demonstrations.
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