Prime Minister’s Adviser (PM) on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has given a strong reaction to the ongoing protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), stating that the protesters resemble groups that the state had created in the past but later became a problem for the state itself.
“These are the same type of people whom we once trained as Mujahideen and sent off to fight and ever since, they have remained a constant trouble for us. These are similar people and members of those same organizations have gathered there armed with weapons,” he said during an interview.
Sanaullah added that the protesters had no political demand or any public welfare agenda and only wanted to “play this game by using people as human shields”.
“If law enforcement agencies have taken action or will take action against them, there is simply no other way to enforce the law,” he said.
When Mir pointed out that Sanaullah was describing the protesters as trained members of militant organisations, Sanaullah interrupted and repeated “They are trained, trained!”
He maintained that those involved in the protests were armed and that their activities were not linked to any political demand but rather to challenging the writ of the state.
Reiterating that the protesters want to use ordinary citizens as a shield, any action taken by law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and order would be unavoidable.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the recent violence in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was carried out by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), alleging that militant elements pursuing a foreign agenda and backed by Indian funding were behind the violent protests.
He noted that peaceful and transparent elections were held in AJK, with all mainstream political parties taking part, referring to the first phase of elections held in the region on Monday.
