- By Ajeet Kumar
- Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A high-level Shehbaz Sharif-led government delegation rushed to start negotiations with a civil society alliance in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after days of violent protests in PoK that led to the deaths of 12, including civilians and security forces.
According to Dawn, an eight-member committee has been dispatched by Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif, which comprises federal ministers- Ahsan Iqbal, Amir Muqam, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Rana Sanaullah, and Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, along with PPP leaders Raja Pervez Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira, and former PoJK president Sardar Masood Khan. They were accompanied by the so-called PoJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
Negotiations began in PoK
As per Dawn, the negotiations began in the committee room of the Chief Secretary's office in the afternoon, with Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Raja Amjad Ali Khan and Anjum Zaman Awan from the Muzaffarabad division representing the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), which has been spearheading the rights movement in the territory.
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The meeting continued until late in the night on Thursday, and talks with the government's high-level committee were resumed on Friday morning.
On Thursday, the entire region observed a complete shutdown and wheel-jam strike for the fourth consecutive day, under a ceaseless communications blackout imposed since Monday. No fresh incidents of violence were reported.
Sharif ordered investigation into protests
In a statement issued by the Pak PM's Office on X, Sharif had directed the negotiation committee to immediately proceed to Muzaffarabad. According to the statement, the prime minister voiced deep concern over the law and order situation in PoJK.
Expressing "deep concern over the unfortunate incidents during the protests", Sharif ordered a transparent investigation into the matter.
Earlier, hundreds of people had gathered at Khurshid Football Stadium and the PoJK's Lala Chowk to attend the funerals of two people killed in a police firing in Muzaffarabad.
What are PoK residents demand
Addressing the mourners, Mir of JKJAAC updated the crowd on the latest developments, vowing that the struggle would continue until the acceptance of key demands is done. These include the abolition of 12 refugee seats, withdrawal of elite privileges, implementation of a June 2019 High Court decision regarding agreements on power projects in PoJK, and the provision of health cards.
He stressed that before discussing these issues, the alliance would demand the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for killing "unarmed protesters" in Muzaffarabad, Dhirkot and other areas of PoJK.
(With inputs from agencies)