AJK marchers call for peace, essential supplies

Political, religious leaders demand end to unrest, blockades

Political and religious parties along with people from different walks of life took to the streets in Sudhnoti on Monday, calling for an end to unrest, violence and instability and an uninterrupted transportation of food and other essential commodities from Pakistan to Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The Sudhnoti March – some 155 Kilometres away from the AJK capital Muzaffarabad – was organised by the Awami Ittehad Forum Sudhnoti. The march began from the Kotli Chowk and passed through various parts of the city before culminating in Kachehri Chowk, where a public gathering was held.

The march brought together supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party, Muslim Conference, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Party, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, besides the civil society activists and other citizens.

The participants of the march raised slogans including "This land is ours, we are its guardians", "No to unrest in AJK", "No to violence", "No to instability", "Kashmir and Pakistan are one" and "What do we want? Peace."

Addressing the rally in the Kachehri Chowk, speakers from various political and religious parties and representatives of different sections of the society expressed their resolve to promote peace, stability and protection of public rights in the region.

In a joint declaration issued at the conclusion of the march, the participants congratulated the government of Pakistan and the armed forces for playing a role as an intermediary for global peace. The declaration said the "everlasting bond" between AJK and Pakistan could not be weakened.

The declaration said that a strong and stable Pakistan was essential for the success of the Kashmir freedom movement. It described Azad Kashmir as Pakistan's "defensive bulwark" and called for preventing the spread of unrest in the region.

The participants demanded that immediate elections be held in the seven constituencies of Rawalakot and Sudhnoti. They also called for uninterrupted transportation of food and other essential commodities from Pakistan to Azad Kashmir.

The declaration demanded an immediate end to blockades and restrictions at entry points in AJK and Pakistan, saying such measures were causing hardships for the people and affecting travel and the movement of essential goods.

The participants also called on the AJK government to restore travel and educational facilities, particularly in Sudhnoti and Rawalakot, and demanded the immediate restoration of internet services across the region.

They urged authorities to simplify and expedite the issuance of documents required by people travelling abroad and called for the provision of wheat to flour mills in Azad Kashmir to ensure an uninterrupted supply of flour.