Jamaat-e-Islami Announces Grand Jirga to Mediate AJK Government and Banned JAAC for Peace

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) announced on Sunday its decision to form a “grand” Kashmir peace jirga aimed at fostering dialogue between the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government and the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to restore stability in the region. The move comes amidst escalating tensions over disputes including the allocation of reserved legislative seats.

The resolution was adopted during a session of the party’s central Majlis-i-Shura, chaired by JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman in Lahore. The jirga’s primary focus will be addressing grievances and resolving conflicts to ensure peace in AJK.

To oversee the initiative, Rehman appointed a committee led by JI Deputy Emir Liaqat Baloch, comprising AJK Emir Dr Muhammad Mushtaq Khan, and former regional leaders Abdul Rashid Turabi and Dr Khalid Mahmood. Additional members, including retired civil servants, judiciary officials, military personnel, and civil society representatives from AJK, are expected to join the committee soon.

The Shura voiced “deep concern” over the unrest in AJK, warning that prolonged instability could undermine the broader Kashmir cause. Rehman emphasized that Pakistan cannot afford further internal strife, citing existing challenges in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Dialogue is the only viable path to resolve this crisis and prevent further deterioration,” Rehman stated, describing Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein of existence.” He urged the federal government to act swiftly to de-escalate tensions and engage with aggrieved communities.

Reiterating unwavering commitment to the Kashmir cause, the JI chief stated that sacrifices made by Pakistanis and Kashmiris for the issue are irreplaceable. He called for immediate negotiations, stressing that “no one is larger or smaller” and urged the government to set aside “stubbornness and ego” to achieve a workable solution.

The core dispute revolves around 12 reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly allocated to refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. While acknowledging some protester concerns as valid, Rehman emphasized that “representation of refugees and the occupied territory cannot be abolished.”

On June 5, the AJK government declared JAAC a proscribed organization ahead of its planned strike. Subsequent security operations led to arrests of JAAC leaders, while recent clashes on Saturday left one dead and several injured in Arja-Rawalakot road confrontations, where protesters allegedly blocked movement, according to Poonch Divisional Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan.

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