ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has said that the Azad Kashmir government was willing to accept all legitimate demands by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), adding he’s still ready to issue directives on those points.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he and Amir Maqam visited Azad Kashmir.
“Our purpose was to assist the Azad Kashmir government in the ongoing negotiations with the Joint Action Committee.”
He said that the Awami Action Committee came up with 38 new demands, deviating from previous agreements. “Among these 38 new demands, we accepted those that were feasible.”
The Federal Minister said that they suggested that the ministers and Chief Secretary of the Azad Kashmir government, as focal persons, should discuss with the Action Committee those demands on which a decision has not yet been made.
“We told them that both of us would return after a few days to ensure the implementation of the matter agreed upon between the Azad Kashmir government and the Action Committee,” Fazal added.
“Few of JAAC’s demands were not acceptable”
He said meeting some demands of the Action Committee were not possible without amending the constitution of Azad Kashmir. “We told the JAAC that we are ready to issue directives for the demands that can be fulfilled now.”
For constitutional amendments, the Action Committee needs to convince other political parties and members of the assembly, Tariq said and added all legitimate demands of the Action Committee have been accepted. “Our advice to them is to continue peaceful dialogue on constitutional amendments and other issues.”
