Curated News Summary

AJK assembly adopts resolutions condemning ministers’ remarks, backing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Source: dawn.com Published Thu, 30 Jul 2026 18:54:48 +0500

Why This Matters

Key context: MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted two resolutions on the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2019216">recent unrest</a> in Rawalakot and other parts of the region, with one condemning statements by federal ministers on the crisis and the other endorsing the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to probe the violence and pave the way for a negotiated settlement. This development emerged amid polls in AJK, which are being held in <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2017254">three phases</a> over security concerns, with the first set of polls <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2018691/polling-concludes-in-mirpur-division-as-scuffles-rigging-allegations-mar-first-phase-of-ajk-elections">held in Mirpur division</a> on Monday. Scuffles, violence and <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2018691/polling-concludes-in-mirpur-division-as-scuffles-rigging-allegations-mar-first-phase-of-ajk-elections#:~:text=PPP%2C%20PML%2DN%20trade%20rigging%20allegations">allegations of rigging</a> marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice. The assembly met under the chairmanship of panel member Nabeela Ayoub, but only nine members were in attendance — seven from the ruling PPP and one each from the opposition PML-N and PTI. The first resolution was tabled by former AJK president Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan on Wednesday, while the second was tabled by PPP regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin. Yaqoob, however, was not present during today’s session. Endorsing his resolution, the assembly condemned what it described as “irresponsible” statements by federal ministers regarding the recent Rawalakot incidents. The resolution particularly censured Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for allegedly <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2010500">refusing to recognise</a> the people of Rawalakot as Kashmiris, saying that such remarks had hurt public sentiment and should have been taken notice of by the prime minister. Recalling the role of the people of Poonch in the Pakistan Movement and the state’s subsequent accession to Pakistan, the resolution said that those whose skins had been flayed alive in 1832 belonged to the same land. Continuing, the resolution said that Ghulam Haider Jhandalvi, who had represented the Kashmiris at the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution in Lahore on March 23, 1940, and AJK’s founding president Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, at whose Srinagar residence the July 19, 1947, accession resolution was adopted, were also sons of the same soil. The resolution said the federal ministers’ statements had “added fuel to the fire” and negatively affected people in Rawalakot, elsewhere in the state and among the Kashmiri diaspora. It called for the implementation of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2018993">proposal</a> to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and urged that no further action be taken in Rawalakot until such a mechanism was put in place. The resolution further called on the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections and demanded that alleged irregularities in the recent elections in the Mirpur division be addressed before fresh polling. It also stressed that dialogue was the only way forward, warning that continued confrontation would only harm the people of the state while providing India with an opportunity to exploit the situation internationally. It described a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as the only viable means of preventing further instability. The assembly also unanimously adopted the second, much more detailed resolution moved by Yasin, reaffirming its commitment to constitutional supremacy, democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of life and property. The resolution paid tribute to security forces, police and law enforcement personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty and expressed sympathy with the families of all civilians, police personnel and security officials killed or injured during the recent unrest. While affirming that peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and the presentation of legitimate political, economic, administrative and social demands were constitutional and democratic rights, it declared that the use of weapons, violence, vandalism, intimidation and other unlawful means could not be accepted as legitimate means of political struggle. It called on peaceful protesters to distance themselves from armed and violent elements and stressed that responsibility for any offences should be determined individually through evidence, transparent investigations and due legal process. It also demanded that the government and law enforcement agencies act against armed and violent elements without discrimination and in accordance with the Constitution and the law, making clear that the objective of state action should be the enforcement of the law and the restoration of peace rather than revenge. The resolution reiterated that no individual, political party or organisation would be allowed to challenge the writ of the state through force or violence, while insisting that all people arrested and those under investigation must be dealt with in accordance with constitutional guarantees, fair trial requirements and judicial procedures. It also expressed sorrow over the loss of life and property suffered by citizens during the recent tensions and called for all such incidents to be examined through an impartial, transparent and lawful process without any predetermined conclusions. In this regard, the assembly supported, in principle, the establishment of an independent, impartial and appropriately empowered Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine the causes and sequence of the recent crisis, all deaths, injuries, property losses and allegations concerning violence and the use of weapons. The resolution additionally proposed that the federal government and representatives of the protesters jointly endorse in writing the establishment, composition, terms of reference, scope and procedure of the commission, after which the AJK government should constitute it without delay under the relevant law. It further proposed that such an endorsement should be accompanied by an immediate end to protests and simultaneous de-escalation by the government, including the restoration of roads, emergency and medical access, essential supplies, communications, including mobile and internet services, and normal civic and economic activity. It also envisaged that protesting parties would refrain from resuming protests until the commission completed its findings, while the governments of AJK and Pakistan would pause further action pending the inquiry, except where necessary to address specific and imminent threats to life or public safety. The proposed commission would be mandated to examine all relevant records, FIRs, documents, videos, forensic material, communications and testimony, while allowing all affected families and relevant parties to present evidence. It would not determine criminal guilt or impose punishment, but could refer matters requiring further action to competent investigative, prosecutorial or judicial authorities. Its final report, subject to national security, privacy and witness protection requirements, would be made public and could recommend humanitarian relief, compensation, institutional reforms, legal proceedings and measures to prevent a recurrence. The resolution also urged the AJK government to simultaneously address the people’s legitimate political, economic, administrative and social demands through dialogue and constitutional means, asserting that political disputes should be resolved through negotiations, legal issues through courts and public decisions through the ballot. It concluded by reaffirming the Legislative Assembly’s commitment to peace, democracy, constitutional governance and public rights, condemning all acts of armed violence and disorder and praying for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. After the resolutions were passed, the PML-N’s Nisara Abbasi pointed out the lack of quorum, following which the chair ordered the bells to be rung. Ayoub adjourned the Assembly for 15-20 minutes, but when it assembled again, the attendance showed no improvement, prompting the chair to adjourn the session till Friday. This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously adopted two resolutions on the recent unrest in Rawalakot and other parts of the region, with one condemning statements by federal ministers on the crisis and the other endorsing the establishment of an independent Truth and Reconciliation Commission to probe the violence and pave the way for a negotiated settlement. This development emerged amid polls in AJK, which are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice. The assembly met under the chairmanship of panel member Nabeela Ayoub, but only nine members were in attendance — seven from the ruling PPP and one each from the opposition PML-N and PTI. The first resolution was tabled by former AJK president Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan on Wednesday, while the second was tabled by PPP regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin. Yaqoob, however, was not present during today’s session. Endorsing his resolution, the assembly condemned what it described as “irresponsible” statements by federal ministers regarding the recent Rawalakot incidents. The resolution particularly censured Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for allegedly refusing to recognise the people of Rawalakot as Kashmiris, saying that such remarks had hurt public sentiment and should have been taken notice of by the prime minister. Recalling the role of the people of Poonch in the Pakistan Movement and the state’s subsequent accession to Pakistan, the resolution said that those whose skins had been flayed alive in 1832 belonged to the same land. Continuing, the resolution said that Ghulam Haider Jhandalvi, who had represented the Kashmiris at the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution in Lahore on March 23, 1940, and AJK’s founding president Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, at whose Srinagar residence the July 19, 1947, accession resolution was adopted, were also sons of the same soil. The resolution said the federal ministers’ statements had “added fuel to the fire” and negatively affected people in Rawalakot, elsewhere in the state and among the Kashmiri diaspora. It called for the implementation of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and urged that no further action be taken in Rawalakot until such a mechanism was put in place. The resolution further called on the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections and demanded that alleged irregularities in the recent elections in the Mirpur division be addressed before fresh polling. It also stressed that dialogue was the only way forward, warning that continued confrontation would only harm the people of the state while providing India with an opportunity to exploit the situation internationally. It described a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as the only viable means of preventing further instability. The assembly also unanimously adopted the second, much more detailed resolution moved by Yasin, reaffirming its commitment to constitutional supremacy, democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of life and property. The resolution paid tribute to security forces, police and law enforcement personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty and expressed sympathy with the families of all civilians, police personnel and security officials killed or injured during the recent unrest. While affirming that peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and the presentation of legitimate political, economic, administrative and social demands were constitutional and democratic rights, it declared that the use of weapons, violence, vandalism, intimidation and other unlawful means could not be accepted as legitimate means of political struggle. It called on peaceful protesters to distance themselves from armed and violent elements and stressed that responsibility for any offences should be determined individually through evidence, transparent investigations and due legal process. It also demanded that the government and law enforcement agencies act against armed and violent elements without discrimination and in accordance with the Constitution and the law, making clear that the objective of state action should be the enforcement of the law and the restoration of peace rather than revenge. The resolution reiterated that no individual, political party or organisation would be allowed to challenge the writ of the state through force or violence, while insisting that all people arrested and those under investigation must be dealt with in accordance with constitutional guarantees, fair trial requirements and judicial procedures. It also expressed sorrow over the loss of life and property suffered by citizens during the recent tensions and called for all such incidents to be examined through an impartial, transparent and lawful process without any predetermined conclusions. In this regard, the assembly supported, in principle, the establishment of an independent, impartial and appropriately empowered Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine the causes and sequence of the recent crisis, all deaths, injuries, property losses and allegations concerning violence and the use of weapons. The resolution additionally proposed that the federal government and representatives of the protesters jointly endorse in writing the establishment, composition, terms of reference, scope and procedure of the commission, after which the AJK government should constitute it without delay under the relevant law. It further proposed that such an endorsement should be accompanied by an immediate end to protests and simultaneous de-escalation by the government, including the restoration of roads, emergency and medical access, essential supplies, communications, including mobile and internet services, and normal civic and economic activity. It also envisaged that protesting parties would refrain from resuming protests until the commission completed its findings, while the governments of AJK and Pakistan would pause further action pending the inquiry, except where necessary to address specific and imminent threats to life or public safety. The proposed commission would be mandated to examine all relevant records, FIRs, documents, videos, forensic material, communications and testimony, while allowing all affected families and relevant parties to present evidence. It would not determine criminal guilt or impose punishment, but could refer matters requiring further action to competent investigative, prosecutorial or judicial authorities. Its final report, subject to national security, privacy and witness protection requirements, would be made public and could recommend humanitarian relief, compensation, institutional reforms, legal proceedings and measures to prevent a recurrence. The resolution also urged the AJK government to simultaneously address the people’s legitimate political, economic, administrative and social demands through dialogue and constitutional means, asserting that political disputes should be resolved through negotiations, legal issues through courts and public decisions through the ballot. It concluded by reaffirming the Legislative Assembly’s commitment to peace, democracy, constitutional governance and public rights, condemning all acts of armed violence and disorder and praying for peace, stability and prosperity in the region. After the resolutions were passed, the PML-N’s Nisara Abbasi pointed out the lack of quorum, following which the chair ordered the bells to be rung. Ayoub adjourned the Assembly for 15-20 minutes, but when it assembled again, the attendance showed no improvement, prompting the chair to adjourn the session till Friday.

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