Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman Calls for Dialogue on AJK Protests Within Pakistan’s Constitutional Framework
ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman has expressed concern over the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), urging all stakeholders to resolve the ongoing tensions through dialogue within Pakistan’s constitutional framework.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Islamabad alongside National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai following their meeting, Hafiz Naeem said the situation in AJK was a matter of concern for every Pakistani.
“If peace is not given a chance, a divide may emerge that will become impossible to bridge,” he said, adding that any negotiations must take place within the framework of Pakistan and its Constitution.
Hafiz Naeem said the meeting focused on the country’s overall political situation and revealed that Jamaat-e-Islami had offered to mediate between the government and the protesting groups. He noted that mediation would only be possible if both sides agreed to the process.
He stressed that maintaining peace was essential for Pakistan’s national interests and the Kashmir cause, while also criticizing the government’s handling of the situation, saying it had failed to take steps that could produce positive outcomes.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief further said public anger grows when democratic mandates are not respected, adding that the underlying causes of the crisis must also be addressed alongside dialogue.
Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai said Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest and observed that a significant trust gap had developed between the government and the Joint Action Committee in Azad Kashmir.
He said efforts should be made to understand why the situation had escalated to its current level, adding that all political stakeholders should reflect on the causes of the crisis.
Former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who was also present, welcomed Jamaat-e-Islami’s mediation efforts, saying the worsening situation in Azad Kashmir had become a source of concern across Pakistan.
Khokhar criticized the political process in Azad Kashmir, alleging that it had been undermined, and claimed that both the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had contributed to the current situation. He warned that if tensions continued to escalate, Pakistan’s position on Kashmir at the international level could be adversely affected.
