The president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Moulana Fazal ur Rehman, has asked the leadership of the banned terrorist organisation, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), to end their strike for fruitful negotiations.
He said that ending the sit-in is necessary for efforts to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
In a video statement, Fazal ur Rehman said the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) had become a matter of serious concern for both the people of Kashmir and Pakistan.
He said the banned JAAC had formally requested him, through a written communication, to play a mediatory role in the dispute, which he said he has accepted.
Fazal ur Rehman added that he had agreed to facilitate dialogue in the broader interests of both Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
“I have accepted this conciliatory role while keeping in view the wider and best interests of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan,” he said.
The JUI-F president noted that protesters participating in the sit-in appeared to be considering their next course of action, but stressed that meaningful mediation would require time to establish contact with the government and initiate formal negotiations.
He also highlighted the significance of the first ten days of Muharram, describing the period as sacred and sensitive for Muslims.
“In the first phase, the Joint Awami Action Committee should immediately end its sit-in and refrain from any further steps that could worsen the situation,” he said.
The JUI-F leader said he was conveying the message to both sides in the hope of creating a favourable environment for future discussions and a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
His remarks come amid a continued deadlock between the government and the banned JAAC. Authorities have repeatedly stated that no negotiations will take place unless the sit-in is first called off.
The committee has also faced internal challenges in recent days, with some core members distancing themselves from the organisation.
Earlier, senior members of the committee had appealed to Fazal ur Rehman to intervene and help mediate between the two sides.
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