The Joint Public Action Committee (JAAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) stepped up its protest against a presidential ordinance and arrest of its supporters, announcing on Friday closure of all routes connecting the region with Pakistan from Saturday (today).
On the call of the JAAC, a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike continued on second consecutive day on Friday. During the strike, all businesses, including grocery shops, hotels and even medical stores remained shut, while no public transport operated.
The JAAC, a coalition of civil society organisations, is protesting against the 'Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance, 2024', which was suspended by the AJK Supreme Court this week.
The JAAC perceived the ordinance as a move to suppress the group and infringed upon the people's constitutional right to peaceful assembly and expression. It demanded withdrawal of the ordinance.
A crippling strike was observed across the region on Thursday and Friday. Now, JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir announced a further step to press the government to accept their demands – the closure of all routes to and from Pakistan.
Addressing a gathering in the Lal Chowk, Upper Adda, Mir announced that the wheel-jam shutter-down protest and sit-ins would continue until the ordinance was withdrawn and the arrested workers were released.
He said that the JAAC had given a one-time deadline of 11am Saturday (today) for the release of arrested workers and withdrawal of the ordinance, otherwise, a march will be started to block the routes to Azad Kashmir from Pakistan.
For the continued strike, the JAAC announced a break from Friday evening till midnight for the people to buy essential items for a few days.
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