MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Chairman of the AJK ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has proposed the establishment of a “Truth and Reconciliation Commission” to address the ongoing crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
In response to the letter sent by the core committee of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), Bilawal described the continuing loss of life in the region, including the deaths reported on Tuesday, as a “national tragedy”.
Bilawal Bhutto said that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission should be constituted with the agreement of all concerned parties.
“The commission should be given a broad mandate to examine the present situation, establish the relevant facts, consider the grievances and positions of all sides, review the outstanding political, legal, and administrative questions, and recommend a just and lasting way forward,” the open letter sent by Bilawal to JAAC stated.
He further said that the life of every Kashmiri is precious, adding that the “death of a peaceful citizen cannot be treated as an acceptable consequence of political disagreement”, just as the life of every police and security official must also be protected.
Furthermore, Bhutto stated that the people of AJK have an unquestionable right to raise their political, economic, and constitutional grievances peacefully, adding that “peaceful protesters should not be indiscriminately labelled as terrorists, anti-Pakistan, or foreign agents merely for demanding their rights”.
At the same time, he stressed that “any allegations of violence against protesters or law enforcement personnel should be investigated individually, impartially, and in accordance with the law”.
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