MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Central Traders Association of Muzaffarabad and Joint Awami Action Committee leaders rejected the AJK High Court’s decision to suspend Shaukat Nawaz Mir’s traders union chairmanship.
In a statement, Muzaffarabad Traders Association spokesperson, Syed Hafeez Hamdani, said that the decision came before the May 24 rally in Muzaffarabad, where thousands of people from across Azad Kashmir are expected to gather, to observe Martyrs’ Day and show solidarity with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
The statement added that Shaukat Nawaz Mir is not only the chairman of the Muzaffarabad Traders Association, but he has become a powerful voice for traders and the people across the state.
Syed Hafeez Hamdani said that the election of the Central Muzaffarabad Traders Association was held under an agreement between the traders’ organizations.
The statement stated that this election was not held under any act, adding that no trader organization in Azad Kashmir has been registered under the Trade Organizations Registration and Regulation Act, 2019.
The high court earlier ordered the government to implement the Trade Organizations Registration and Regulation Act, 2019, within 90 days. Justice Chaudhry Khalid Rasheed declared that the traders association officials, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, are no longer authorised to act in their previous capacities and must refrain from calling themselves chairmen.
Furthermore, the Muzaffarabad traders association spokesperson said that the elections were held under the mutual consent of the five trader organizations of Muzaffarabad, with an impartial election commission overseeing the process.
The election commission consisted of officials from the press club, the judiciary, civil society, administration, and the Police.
Moreover, the spokesperson added that the occasion of the martyrs’ day tomorrow will be a referendum in itself and will also be an effective response to all those forces who are trying to divide traders from all over the state by using negative means instead of respecting the mandate of the trader community.
Talking to Kashmir Digital, several leaders of the Central Traders Association, Muzaffarabad, said that Shaukat Nawaz Mir, who is also a core member of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), lives in the hearts of the people of Azad Kashmir.
“If we go to the elections, no one can stop Mir from becoming the Prime Minister,” they said.
Shaukar Nawaz Mir addresses presser
Earlier, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, while addressing the press conference in Muzaffarabad, said that “we respect the court decisions, but the time this decision came out will prove to be very beneficial for us, as due to the decision, people will come in larger numbers for the May 24 gathering in the AJK capital.”
Addressing an emergency press conference, he said that this case was pending in the court for the last five years. “I will not talk about the decision of the judges, but I will definitely talk about this period,” he added.
Shaukat Nawaz Mir alleged that some elements are trying to obstruct the scheduled public gathering tomorrow and are trying to spoil the peaceful rally.
“He said that our preparations for tomorrow’s program are complete, but now after the court decision, God willing, you will see a big crowd.”
Talking about the annulment of the decision, he added that after the elections in November 2020, the constitutional term of traders association officials is five years, which is also recorded on the stamp paper.
Shaukat Nawaz Mir said that those who failed in this election are trying to divide the traders.
“If we had not united the traders in Muzaffarabad for a general election, the Joint Awami Action Committee would have faced difficulties in reaching this point.”
JAAC leader added that the movement of the Awami Action Committee started from Poonch and reached Muzaffarabad, where three youths sacrificed their lives.
“Even now, some elements are following the policy of ‘divide and rule’ to divide the traders, but they will not succeed, because the role of traders has always been key in this movement,” he states.
