Muzaffarabad: In a press conference held at the Central Press Club, Muzaffarabad, prominent leaders including Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq Khan, Sheikh Aqeel ur Rehman, Raja Aftab Ahmed Khan, Syed Salim Hussain Shah, Hafiz Abdul Samad Advocate, Chaudhry Hafeez Saghar, Bilal Magray Advocate, and Raja Zahid Khan, emphasized Jamaat-e-Islami’s commitment to advocating for the rights of the people from the first day. They stated that they will not allow any chaos in the Azad Kashmir region in the name of obtaining people’s rights and demanded that the government fulfill the legitimate demands of the people.
Dr. Muhammad Mushtaq Khan, the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Kashmir, stressed that the government should abolish taxes on electricity bills and provide subsidies on basic necessities such as flour to provide relief to the poor. He further expressed concerns over the deployment of FC and Punjab police in Azad Kashmir, stating that while they understand the need for security measures, it should not infringe upon the rights of the people. He warned against the negative impact such actions could have on the relationship between Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.
Highlighting the ongoing electricity crisis, the leaders pointed out that nearly 2300 megawatts of electricity are being generated in Azad Kashmir, yet the locals are not benefiting from it. They demanded that the government address the electricity and other basic issues faced by the people of Azad Kashmir promptly, emphasizing that the region cannot afford any further delays.
Additionally, they criticized the government for neglecting the local bodies’ representatives and failing to provide them with their due rights according to Act 90, which is essential for the promotion of democratic principles. They emphasized the need for the immediate activation of local government institutions and the empowerment of elected representatives.
The leaders also expressed concern over the prevalence of corrupt practices despite the presence of institutions like NAB and FIA. They urged the government to take decisive actions to curb corruption and ensure merit-based decision-making processes.
Regarding the media blackout in occupied Kashmir, they called upon the United Nations to intervene and ensure that journalists and other organizations are allowed access to the region to report the ground realities.
Jamaat-e-Islami leaders reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding people’s rights and vowed to continue their struggle for democracy and justice. They urged the government to reduce the size of the cabinet, provide relief to the people, and fulfill their demands without further delay. They announced plans to hold conferences in Kashmir and Islamabad on May 14th and 15th respectively, to address the issues faced by the people and strategize for their resolution.