Bilawal says JAAC response received

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday said he had received a response from the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) regarding his proposal to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In a post on social media platform X, Bilawal said JAAC had not only responded to the proposal but also submitted several recommendations for consideration.

He said that every precious life lost was a national tragedy, adding that his foremost priority at present was to help resolve the ongoing crisis and provide immediate relief to the people.

Bilawal further said that another key priority was the earliest possible restoration of normal life in AJK. He welcomed the committee's willingness to accept the proposed reconciliation commission as a possible institutional mechanism for moving the process forward.

The PPP chairman noted that the proposed commission had also been endorsed by the AJK Legislative Assembly, adding that he would carefully review the assembly's approval.

Bilawal said that following receipt of the JAAC's response, he would now hold consultations with the AJK prime minister. "The AJK prime minister will approach the federal government and other relevant stakeholders to seek their initial views and assess whether sufficient common ground exists to take a consensus proposal forward," he added.

The AJK has been in turmoil for over two months due to a protest movement by JAAC, which demands the abolition of refugees' seats in the AJK legislature. The AJK government proscribed the group on June 5.

During an election rally in the AJK, Bilawal on July 18 proposed the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to help resolve political and constitutional issues in the AJK through dialogue.

Bilawal said politicians must focus on resolving public issues and representing the people's voice, warning that political vacuums often allow non-political and extremist elements to gain influence.

He claimed that he had received a letter from protesters and suggested establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to identify solutions to the region's longstanding issues. He proposed that protests be suspended until the commission completed its work.

On June 30, the AJK Legislative Assembly also passed a resolution calling for the establishment of an independent truth commission to investigate the recent unrest, examine all deaths, injuries and property losses, and recommend relief and reforms.

The resolution came after clashes were reported between law enforcement personnel and the proscribed JAAC protesters in Rawalakot, with reports of multiple deaths and injuries circulating on social media. Both security forces and JAAC claimed the loss of lives.