MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Tuesday said that the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) bore “primary responsibility” for pushing the situation to a point where lives were lost.

“Those who lost their lives on both sides were our own people. However, the primary responsibility for this situation rests with the banned Joint Awami Action Committee, which brought matters to this point,” he said while speaking in the Legislative Assembly and later talking to reporters.

“We have not absolved ourselves of responsibility as a government. But both the office-bearers of the Action Committee and the AJK government knew that if things continued in this manner, lives would be lost,” he added.

“We kept trying to stop it and continued making appeals, but they chose instead to take the situation to its present stage.”

The prime minister’s remarks came as AJK entered the eighth day of a shutter-down strike in most towns and cities. However, reports from across the region suggested that businesses had begun reopening in the evening hours.

In Muzaffarabad, medical stores, restaurants, fruit and vegetable shops, bakeries and some grocery stores resumed operations.

Public transport, however, remained off the roads as the administration had ordered petrol pumps to remain closed.

The standoff in Rawalakot continued on Tuesday, but no untoward incident was reported. Defending the authorities’ response, the PM said: “When someone breaks the law, the law takes its course.”

Addressing the assembly during a debate on resolutions, PM Rathore described the current situation in AJK as regrettable and said all stakeholders shared responsibility for it. “For me, the value of human life comes above everything else, and all of us must play our role in saving lives,” he said.

“I am the prime minister of the state and I accept my responsibility. We must act with a sense of responsibility to extinguish this fire and safeguard the identity of Azad Kashmir.”

The PM regretted that cracks had appeared in the bond between Pakistan and Kashmir, while calling for reflection on the factors that had fueled divisions in society. “We need to think about what has happened that has created hatred in people’s hearts,” he said.

Defending his seven-month-old government’s performance, Mr Rathore claimed it had implemented all provisions of the agreement with JAAC that fell within the AJK government’s jurisdiction and secured resolution of most issues requiring federal intervention, particularly those related to the budget.

He said only one constitutional demand remained under consideration through a committee and alleged that despite the implementation of 37 demands, an impression continued to be created that the agreement had not been honoured.

He cited a number of measures undertaken by his administration, including the resolution of issues facing media workers, a reduction in property tax, provision of Rs10 billion to help the Bank of AJK attain scheduled-bank status, settlement of matters related to the division of the educational board and payment of compensation to 45 affected persons.

Regarding the contentious issue of the 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees from India-held Kashmir, he said the agreement with JAAC did not provide for their abolition. Instead, a committee had been constituted to resolve the matter through dialogue.

Rathore said he had personally visited JAAC leaders to invite them to an all-parties conference, but they did not attend.

“If they enjoy public support, they should become part of the system and bring reforms from within,” he said.

Rejecting speculation that subsidised flour and electricity packages would be withdrawn, the prime minister said the concessions secured after last year’s negotiations would remain intact.

“It is being portrayed that if the movement fails, the flour and electricity concessions will be taken back. This is completely incorrect. These concessions will not be withdrawn at any cost,” he said.

Expressing concern over the prevailing atmosphere in the region, PM Rathore said the situation had become so tense that candidates were unable to campaign freely for the legislative assembly elections scheduled for July 27.

“What could be more unfortunate than the fact that elections are due on July 27 and no candidate is able to campaign? An environment has emerged in which electioneering has become virtually impossible,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026