Muzaffarabad, (Parliament Times) : On the appeal of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Action Committee, there was a shutter down and wheel jam strike across Azad Kashmir on Friday. All government offices, educational institutions, markets, shops, and roads remained closed.
Protests were also going on in various areas including Kotli, Neelum Valley, and Haveli. Meanwhile, the government had ordered to close all educational institutions and offices on Friday and Saturday, while all examinations have also been postponed.
There has also been a clash between the police and the protestors. Under Section 144, the government has banned public gatherings and protests. A heavy police force was present on the streets of the city, due to the implementation of Section 144, more than two people were killed across the city.
Public Action Committee member and Chairman All traders Shaukat Nawaz Mir had announced to start the May 11 call from May 10 after the Dadyal incident, on which the traders shut down all business centers.
To ensure the situation of law and order in the city, Commissioner Muzaffarabad Division Masoodur Rahman, DIG Yasin Qureshi, Deputy Commissioner Muzaffarabad Nadeem Janjua, Assistant Commissioner Ghulam Mohiuddin Geelani, and SSP Muzaffarabad Yasin Baig have managed the administration and visited various markets including Madina Market along with the police force and expressed satisfaction with the peace and order situation.
In Muzaffarabad, demonstrators pelted stones at the police, while police used tear gas freely on the protesters, tear gas shells were fired at people’s houses, and any children, women, and elderly became unconscious, were taken to CMH Muzaffarabad for medical assistance.
Addressing the protest meeting in Rawalakot, Senior Member Central Joint Action Committee Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri said that the long march of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Joint Action Committee will start from Mirpur on May 11, the imposed lockdown will continue for an indefinite period. If the government tries to stop our long march, dharnas will be given in the entire Azad Kashmir.
The government will have to accept the demands of the people. The people of Poonch will welcome the march coming from Mirpur on Sunday, May noon by reaching D. Chowk Rawalakot. Like the rest of Azad Kashmir, all the shops in Poonch Rawalakot will remain closed. While no transport will run. However, the vehicles that are stopped on the road are being given time from 8:00 to midnight on Friday to leave. Regarding government vehicles, if they are running, then are not responsible for the damage. All hotels in the city are allowed to remain open but will not provide food and accommodation to the forces brought in from outside, he said.
The participants of the march will have to join as per the procedure decided by the Joint Action Committee. We have to remain peaceful at all costs. If the police stop us, we will stage the same dharna. Then if the way of police violence is taken on us, we are not responsible for the loss. If there is any loss due to the action of the police, the district administration commissioner Poonch, DIG police and deputy commissioner Poonch will be responsible.
Umar Nazir Kashmiri said that in the current tense situation, the branches of the banks established in Rawalakot City will also remain closed. The struggle will continue until the achievement, the rulers should listen now that there is no greater power than the people, if the people will rise, then the rulers will not find a way to escape. In all small and big towns across the district, including Rawalkot, the wheel is jammed along the entire Shutter Down.
Later on Friday, a public protest was held in Rawalakot by the people of all schools of thought. On this occasion, the speakers strongly condemned the baton charge and violence against the citizens and students in Dodial.
Maulana Iftikhar, Ishtiaq, Raja Faheem Muawiya, Sardar Abid Rasheedfrom, and a large number of people addressed the protest rally.
We are peacefully exercising our democratic rights, if we are prevented from exercising our democratic rights or resort to violence, then Anwar Kakar will be responsible. will take out the youth in the number of and move towards the powerhouse to take their democratic right and will not return without taking their right, they said.
On the appeal of the Joint Public Action Committee, a complete shutter dawn wheel jam protest rally and demonstration was held in Palindri city.