Dr. Irfan Ashraf warns of indefinite sit-in from April 6 if basic facilities are not provided
Rawalakot,(Parliament Times):
The residents of Constituency No. 3 Jabouta in District Poonch have announced a protest and sit-in on April 6 against alleged irregularities by the Electricity Department and the persistent lack of basic facilities. They have warned that if their demands are not met, the sit-in will continue indefinitely.
Addressing a crowded press conference at Ghazi Millat Press Club, leader of the All Jammu & Kashmir Muslim Conference and former candidate for Assembly Constituency No. 3, Dr. Irfan Ashraf, expressed strong criticism. Speaking alongside former assembly candidates Nazir Khan, Qamar Rasheed, Ijaz Khan, Ikram Khan, Rasheed Khan, Shehbaz Khan, Sohail Khan, and others, Dr. Ashraf highlighted the long-standing deprivation faced by the people of Jabouta.
He stated that the residents have been forced to live in conditions akin to the Stone Age, and leaders who previously held high offices after winning votes from the area have neglected it, establishing a feudal-style system. He claimed that many households still lack access to electricity, while in some homes dangerously exposed electrical lines run across rooftops, urgently requiring replacement—yet the authorities have failed to take action or provide poles.
Dr. Ashraf further alleged that Electricity Department officers prioritize political affiliations over addressing public issues, using various tactics to pressure residents. He criticized the practice of conditioning basic services on political loyalty, calling it deeply regrettable and a major source of hardship, while describing the system as entirely outdated.
He announced that if electricity-related issues are not resolved immediately, a protest march will be held from Khai Gela to Rawalakot on April 6, culminating in a sit-in in front of the relevant electricity offices that will continue until demands are met.
Dr. Ashraf also heavily criticized former Prime Minister and President, as well as the area’s MLA, Haji Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, holding them responsible for the constituency’s deprivation. He accused SEs and other electricity officers of acting as “white elephants” with no sense of accountability, behaving like unchallenged rulers.
Finally, he called on the Jammu & Kashmir Joint Public Action Committee to highlight the constituency’s issues and speak with a unified voice for public rights, warning that otherwise, residents would be forced to decide their own course of action.