Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday called on the government to recognise the seriousness of the unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and seek a political solution through dialogue and reconciliation.
In a video message posted on the party’s official X account, Fazl urged state institutions to avoid further escalation.
“The government must realise the seriousness of the situation. Our state institutions and state authorities must also recognise it. Instead of staining our home with blood, they should strive to make it flourish. I appeal to them to seriously consider our request, pursue reconciliation and move forward towards resolving the issue,” he said.
His remarks came after recent clashes between law enforcement personnel and members of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Rawalakot, with both security forces and the JAAC reporting casualties.
Fazl said the JAAC’s sit-in had continued for more than two months and recalled that, following heightened tensions on June 5, the committee had formally requested that he mediate between the protesters and the government.
He said he accepted the role and maintained contact with both sides through JUI-F AJK chief Maulana Saeed Yousaf Khan and Sardar Kamran Azam Khan.
According to Fazl, while the protesters expressed confidence in his mediation efforts, the government failed to give them due consideration and instead sought to deal with the situation through force rather than political engagement.