Govt subsidy fails as three killed in AJK violence

Protests announced by the Awami Action Committee (AAC) against inflation including high electricity tariffs continued for the fourth day on Monday in AJK despite the state and federal governments accepting “all demands” of the protesters.

After Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Rs23 billion subsidy package for the AJK, the region's Premier Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said the fundamental demands regarding cheap roti [bread] and electricity cannot be rejected.

He said the AJK government issued a notification regarding subsidies for power and food commodities, hoping that peace would be restored in the region after implementation of the much-anticipated notifications.

PM Anwar said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, added that PM Shehbaz assured him of all-out support to address issues of the AJK people.

He clarified that neither the government had intentions to disrupt peaceful struggle of the AJK people nor would it try to impact any such struggle in future.

He said that the government exhibited tolerance and patience despite violations of the law and added that more than 100 policemen were wounded in violent clashes with the protesters, whereas, not a "single marcher was injured".

Accepting all demands placed by the AAC, the AJK government issued a notification regarding subsidies for power and food commodities. He hoped that peace would be restored in the region after implementation of the much-anticipated notifications.

Despite the notification of subsidies and government's assurances, clashes between the AAC protesters with the law enforcement agencies' continued in Muzaffarabad, leaving at least three dead and seven others injured.

It may be noted that a policeman was also killed during the clashes on Saturday.

The AAC called for a shutter down and wheel-jam strike across the state to protest the electricity price hike and taxes. However, the situation escalated as the protesters and police clashed.

A sub-inspector was killed while dozens other policemen and protesters also got injured during the teargas shelling by the police and stone pelting by the demonstrators.