AJK crisis deepens as opposition raises state repression claims
The leaders made the remarks during a joint press conference in Islamabad, where they raised concerns about the political and security situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
They accused the authorities of using coercive measures against citizens and protesters. They also claimed that constitutional rights, freedom of expression and the right to vote were being weakened.
Both opposition figures called for an end to what they described as “state repression” and demanded that public rights be protected under the law.
Opposition raises concerns over AJK situation
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the situation in AJK had reached a serious point. He alleged that state-run media were not fully showing the conditions on the ground.
According to Raja, social media platforms were providing a different picture of developments in the region. He argued that people should have the right to express their concerns without facing excessive pressure.
Raja also claimed that the families of some people who died during recent unrest were still facing difficulties in receiving the bodies of their relatives.
These claims were presented by the opposition during the press conference and were not independently established in the information provided.
Raja further alleged that constitutional and legal protections had been weakened in AJK over recent years. He linked the issue to wider concerns about democracy, political freedoms and the sanctity of the vote.
He said restrictions on citizens’ rights could have consequences beyond AJK and affect Pakistan’s democratic system.
Raja calls for an end to coercive measures
Raja said he would continue speaking against what he described as injustice and political repression. He also criticised the continued imprisonment of PTI founder Imran Khan, describing it as unlawful.
He accused the authorities of acting in ways that, in his view, did not protect the interests of the people. Raja called for an end to what he termed brutality against citizens.
The PTI leader said his party would continue raising issues involving public rights and political freedoms. He also expressed concern about what he described as a decline in respect for human life.
His remarks came amid wider political debate over the situation in AJK, where questions about civil liberties, public protests and the conduct of authorities have attracted attention.
Raja maintained that democratic institutions should protect citizens rather than restrict their ability to raise legitimate concerns.
Also Read: AJK suspends top police officials in major administrative crackdown
Raja Nasir Abbas stresses rule of law
MWM Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas also criticised the reported use of force against protesters. He said every state and institution must operate according to its constitution and established legal principles.
Nasir Abbas argued that constitutional rule and the rule of law should remain central to the handling of political disagreements.
He also made a separate political argument about the constitutional status of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He asserted that AJK is a separate state rather than part of Pakistan.
The statement adds another dimension to the debate because the region has a distinct constitutional and political framework linked to the wider Kashmir dispute.
Nasir Abbas condemned what he described as the use of force against people taking part in protests. He called for citizens’ rights to be respected and for political issues to be addressed through legal and democratic means.
