MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Saqib Majeed Raja, Chief Organizer of Muslim Conference Azad Kashmir and candidate for Assembly constituency Khawra, announced a peace march from Kohala to Muzaffarabad today, a day ahead of the strike call given by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Speaking to the media after a party meeting in Muzaffarabad, Saqib Majeed Raja said that they were grateful to the Prime Minister of Pakistan for sending federal ministers to negotiate with the Action Committee.
He said they have no affiliation with any group. When most of the demands were accepted in the negotiations, why were the negotiations not moved forward? He said they will not allow any road or shop to be closed forcibly.
He said that some demands were constitutional and had to be approved by the assembly. The Action Committee deliberately failed the negotiations, he said.
It should be noted that Saqib Majeed Raja, being a young popular leader, has a considerable influence in Muzaffarabad. In the last election in Khawra constituency, he secured more than 22,000 votes.
Meanwhile, in view of the growing tensions in Azad Kashmir amid the call for a statewide protest and lockdown by the Awami Action Committee on September 29, a broad-based reconciliation committee has been constituted to protect peace and prevent conflict.
This committee is being described as an exemplary step for the peace and stability in the state, and includes retired judges, bar council leaders, religious scholars, and respected media representatives.
The purpose of this committee is to revive the stalled negotiation process between the Action Committee and the government and to pave the way for a peaceful resolution.
The personalities included in the reconciliation committee are former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Chaudhry Ibrahim Zia, Retired Supreme Court Judge Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, Justice (R) Sardar Hamid Khan, and former Chief Justice of the High Court Azhar Saleem Babar.
Maulana Saeed Yusuf Khan, Allama Ishaq Naqvi, Allama Hamiduddin Barkati, Maulana Qari Abdul Majeed Khan, Dr. Yasir Abbas Sabzwari, and Vice Chairman Bar Council Uqab Hashmi Advocate are also included in the body.
Former President High Court Bar Raja Tariq Bashir Advocate, Javed Sharif, President Central Press Club Sajjad Qayyum Mir, Secretary General AKNS Raja Amjad Hussain Khan, Vice Chairman Press Foundation Sardar Zulfiqar Ali, former President Central Press Club Syed Afaq Hussain Shah, former President Sohail Mughal, Chaudhry Mahmood Hussain, President District Bar Association Mirpur Javed Najam ul Saqib, President Supreme Court Bar Association, President Press Club Abid Hussain Shah, former President Kashmir Press Club Mirpur Sajjad Jarral are also members of the committee.
At the same time, both the governments of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir were urged to immediately resume the negotiation process so that the peace and tranquility of the state is not affected as a result of any conflict.
