ISLAMABAD: Following several days of fervent protests, the Awami Joint Action Committee has declared an end to ongoing demonstrations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) against escalating inflation.
This decision came a day after the government acceded to their demands. The committee, which had been leading the protests, disbanded them after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a subsidy package of Rs23 billion for the people of AJK.
"The government accepted all the protesters' demands yesterday," stated the AAC in a release. However, the AAC mentioned that a statewide shutdown would be observed until 3 pm today in honor of those who lost their lives in the protests.
Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the head of the alliance, also urged the government to provide financial compensation to the families of three protesters and a police officer who lost their lives in the violence.
It's worth noting that Azad Jammu and Kashmir witnessed violent clashes between police and activists of a rights movement during a territory-wide strike, resulting in three deaths and several injuries.
On Monday, clashes between protesters and law enforcement agencies in Muzaffarabad led to one death and two injuries. Additionally, a police officer lost his life during the clashes, with several other law enforcement officials sustaining injuries.
A day prior, the AJK government had announced reductions in electricity and flour prices for the people of AJK. According to the notification issued, the price of wheat flour was reduced by Rs 1100 per 40 kg bag, from Rs 3100 to Rs 2000. Furthermore, the government approved reductions in electricity prices, with domestic consumers using up to 100 units to be charged Rs 3 per unit, those using 101-300 units to be charged Rs 5 per unit, and those using more than 300 units to be charged Rs 6 per unit. Industrial consumers using up to 300 units will be charged Rs 10 per unit, while those using more than 300 units will be charged Rs 15 per unit.
