31.6 C
Los Angeles
Wednesday, October 7, 2026

One Killed in Shooting Amid Mixed Response to Joint Awami Action Committee Strike in Azad Kashmir

Markets reopened in major cities like Mirpur...

One Killed in Qallan Shooting as Shutdown Eases in Major Azad Kashmir Cities

While business districts reopened in Mirpur, Muzaffarabad...

45-Year-Old Man Found Dead in Budgam’s Branwar Area

Police have launched an investigation after the...
Home Blog Page 13

Rawalakot Leader Demands Answers Over Disruption of Children’s Education in Azad Kashmir

The Azadi Times
-
0
Rawalakot Leader Demands Answers Over Disruption of Children’s Education in Azad Kashmir

Joint Awami Action Committee core member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri questions authorities over educational disruptions during a public conference in Rawalakot.

RAWALAKOT — A senior leader of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has raised serious concerns over the disruption of educational activities across Azad Kashmir, demanding accountability from authorities regarding the impact on schools, colleges, and universities.

Speaking at the "Paigham-e-Inqilab Conference" held at Dareek Eidgah in Rawalakot on August 26, JAAC core member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri criticized the circumstances that have left children struggling to access consistent schooling. He asserted that the public is owed clear answers regarding who is responsible for the educational setbacks affecting the region's youth.

"We want answers as to who deprived our innocent children of education and why," Kashmiri told the gathering, addressing the audience during the commemorative event marking the arrival of the Prophet of Islam.

Kashmiri emphasized that the fundamental rights of residents, particularly access to education and basic public services, cannot be sidelined. He added that the collective future of the region's children must be protected and prioritized by decision-makers.

The event drew community members and local activists to discuss pressing public grievances and regional rights issues. Organizers reiterated that public mobilization will continue until core administrative and educational concerns are adequately addressed by the authorities.

Shaukat Nawaz Mir Expected in Court Tomorrow as Detention Reaches 55 Days

The Azadi Times
-
0
Shaukat Nawaz Mir Expected in Court Tomorrow as Detention Reaches 55 Days

The upcoming court hearing on August 28 marks a crucial phase for the detained Joint Awami Action Committee core member, whose prolonged custody has drawn persistent scrutiny.

MUZAFFARABAD — The legal proceedings surrounding detained Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir reach a critical juncture, with his appearance in court expected tomorrow, August 28.

Mir was taken into custody by authorities on June 30, marking nearly 55 days of detention. Throughout this period, his continued custody without regular court appearances has raised significant concerns among family members, legal representatives, and rights advocates regarding due process and access to legal counsel.

The Joint Awami Action Committee has repeatedly called upon authorities to ensure Mir is presented before a court in accordance with established legal procedures and granted immediate access to his family and legal team.

In June, authorities in Azad Kashmir initiated legal proceedings against Mir, invoking various charges including sedition. Officials maintained that the case and subsequent investigations are being handled through standard legal channels.

With the legal timeline advancing, attention has turned firmly to tomorrow’s scheduled hearing, as observers and supporters await confirmation of whether Mir will be presented before the judiciary.

Rawalakot Sit-In Enters 80th Day as Protesters Demand End to Corruption and Accountability

The Azadi Times
-
0
Rawalakot Sit-In Enters 80th Day as Protesters Demand End to Corruption and Accountability

Millions gather at city entry points in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, pressing for systemic reforms, the release of detainees, and justice for victims.

RAWALAKOT — The ongoing public sit-in in Rawalakot, located in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, has entered its 80th consecutive day, with demonstrators occupying major entry points around the city to demand far-reaching administrative and judicial reforms.

The protest, which draws participants from diverse age groups including elders, women, and youth, stems from longstanding local grievances over governance, infrastructure decay, and allegations of institutional corruption spanning decades. Organizers and participants have voiced strong discontent regarding the distribution of development funds, the state of public health and educational facilities, and the rule of law.

Demonstrators have also called for the immediate release of individuals detained during earlier unrest, accountability for security-related casualties, and an end to what they describe as systemic harassment of peaceful protesters. The protesters maintain that their campaign remains entirely peaceful, relying on public mobilization rather than confrontation.

Local community representatives have appealed to international human rights organizations and independent observers to take note of the situation on the ground, pointing to alleged information gaps and restricted public communication channels surrounding the prolonged demonstrations.

The sit-in highlights deep-seated economic and political frustrations within the region, where public movements have increasingly challenged prevailing governance structures and demanded greater transparency from authorities.

AJK Public Action Committee Rejects Verbal Assurances, Demands Official Notifications to End Sit-Ins

The Azadi Times
-
0
AJK Public Action Committee Rejects Verbal Assurances, Demands Official Notifications to End Sit-Ins

Joint Awami Action Committee member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri insists protests will continue until formal implementation orders are issued.

RAWALAKOT — The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has maintained a firm stance on ongoing protests, declaring that sit-ins across Pakistan-administered Kashmir will not be called off without formal, written notifications implementing their demands.

Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri, a member of the action committee, stated that demonstrators have repeatedly faced unfulfilled promises in the past and will no longer rely on verbal assurances from authorities.

“We have been deceived many times before, not anymore,” Kashmiri said, emphasizing that concrete actions and official implementation orders must precede any discussions about ending the protests.

The statement comes amid continued demonstrations in the region centered on public demands and government accountability. The action committee’s leadership reiterated that mere promises are no longer sufficient to ease tensions, demanding tangible proof of policy changes through administrative notifications.

Three Arrested Following Riera Shooting Incident, Reports Indicate Khayam Mirza Injured

The Azadi Times
-
0
Three Arrested Following Riera Shooting Incident, Reports Indicate Khayam Mirza Injured

Authorities have taken three individuals into custody following a reported shooting incident in Riera, prompting expressions of concern from public circles and local rights advocates.

Authorities have arrested three individuals following a reported shooting incident in Riera, according to information emerging from the area.

Local sources said that Sardar GM, Abdul Mannan, and Khayam Mirza were taken into custody in the wake of the incident. Reports indicate that Khayam Mirza sustained a gunshot wound during the episode, though the severity of his injuries and the exact circumstances surrounding the arrests remain unconfirmed independently.

The developments have drawn concern from public circles. In a joint statement, local representatives criticized the handling of the situation by authorities, asserting that arrests and pressure would not succeed in halting ongoing public movements.

"The struggle will continue until our demands are met," the statement said, emphasizing that public resolve remains firm despite the use of coercive measures.

Key questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered, including the precise motives behind the Riera shooting, the conditions under which the three individuals were detained, and how Khayam Mirza was shot. Further details are awaited as authorities have yet to release a comprehensive official account.

New Leadership in Gharbi Bagh Sets Stage for Infrastructure Revival After Historic Vote

The Azadi Times
-
0
New Leadership in Gharbi Bagh Sets Stage for Infrastructure Revival After Historic Vote

Following a decisive political shift in Dhirkot, residents look to newly elected leader Sajid Iqbal Abbasi to tackle long-standing development challenges, road repairs, and public service gaps.

The recent election victory of Sajid Iqbal Abbasi in the Gharbi Bagh constituency has marked a significant turning point in local politics, ending more than five decades of political dominance by the Muslim Conference in the area.

For residents across Dhirkot and surrounding areas, the transition has brought renewed attention to long-standing issues concerning basic infrastructure, roads, public institutional buildings, educational facilities, and healthcare centers. Over the past nearly two decades, local development has frequently faced hurdles, with many major projects becoming entangled in administrative delays, disputes, or allegations of corruption.

In recent years, deteriorating road networks and delayed public works led many local communities to rely on self-help initiatives. Residents frequently pooled funds to carry out basic road repairs, water boring projects, and path construction. Community organizations and local volunteers also stepped in to support building repairs for local schools and dispensaries, highlighting a growing gap in formal state-backed infrastructure maintenance.

Abbasi’s victory, secured by a notable margin, now places the responsibility of translating electoral success into tangible development squarely on the new leadership.

Key transport routes, including the link roads in Rangla, Chhapriyan, Ghori Keer, and the Basharat Shaheed Road, remain in urgent need of repair and upgrade. Dilapidated government buildings and limited access to essential public services also present immediate challenges for the incoming representative.

Following an alliance formed between Abbasi’s political platform and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)—alongside assurances of development support from the party’s central leadership for Azad Jammu and Kashmir—public expectations have risen. Local community circles have expressed hope that Abbasi could be entrusted with responsibilities in the communications and works sector to directly oversee the rehabilitation of the region's infrastructure.

Public discussions across the constituency now focus less on the political shift itself and more on whether the new leadership can deliver transparent, accountable, and effective governance to resolve decades of infrastructural neglect in Gharbi Bagh.

Rawalkot Sit-in Vital for Future of Jammu and Kashmir, Says Sardar Umar Nazir

The Azadi Times
-
0
Rawalkot Sit-in Vital for Future of Jammu and Kashmir, Says Sardar Umar Nazir

Addressing protesters at Hazrat Umar Farooq Chowk, Sardar Umar Nazir emphasized that the ongoing demonstration holds central importance for the region’s survival and political trajectory.

RAWALKOT — The ongoing sit-in at Rawalkot’s Hazrat Umar Farooq Chowk is not a minor demonstration, but a pivotal movement that will help determine the survival and future of the entire Jammu and Kashmir region, according to local leader Sardar Umar Nazir.

Speaking to protesters on August 24, Nazir described the Rawalkot gathering as the central demonstration among various protest sites across the area.

“Do not consider this sit-in ordinary,” Nazir said during his address. “This sit-in will prove instrumental in determining the survival and future of the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir.”

His remarks underline the central role the Rawalkot sit-in has assumed within the broader protest movement. As demonstrators continue to press their demands, the unfolding situation has drawn increased attention to the region’s political trajectory and upcoming actions by organizers.

Bullets Are Not the Solution: Raja Farooq Haider Urges Political Engagement in Azad Kashmir

The Azadi Times
-
0
Bullets Are Not the Solution: Raja Farooq Haider Urges Political Engagement in Azad Kashmir

Former AJK prime minister calls on authorities to engage the 1.4 million residents of Poonch through political dialogue rather than force.

Addressing the legislative assembly session, former Azad Kashmir prime minister Raja Farooq Haider emphasized that resorting to force and firing will not resolve ongoing regional issues, stating that such methods belong to the past.

Haider urged whoever assumes the office of prime minister in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to immediately reach out to the 1.4 million residents of the Poonch division. He stressed that authorities must handle current challenges through serious political dialogue and confidence-building measures rather than confrontation.

The remarks come amid heightened public protests and a tense political atmosphere across the Poonch division, where local representatives and community leaders have increasingly called for peaceful resolutions and structured engagement.

Food Supply Concerns Surface in Azad Kashmir Following Alleged Dhangali Border Restrictions

The Azadi Times
-
0
Food Supply Concerns Surface in Azad Kashmir Following Alleged Dhangali Border Restrictions

Local reports claim transport vehicles carrying essential supplies toward Azad Kashmir are being halted at Dhangali, raising concerns over potential shortages.

DADYAL — Local journalists and residents have raised concerns over reports that vehicles carrying essential food supplies and daily commodities toward Azad Kashmir are being blocked at Dhangali, according to local reports.

The developments, which have sparked growing public anxiety across the region, involve unverified claims regarding the restriction of cargo transport entering the territory.

Local media previously reported on August 22 that more than a dozen loaded vehicles, including oil tankers, trucks, and smaller loader vans waiting to cross into Azad Kashmir, were moved to the Kallar Syedan Police Station from the Dhangali check post.

Advocate Khawaja Mehran said the situation extends beyond the Mirpur Division, noting that residents in Poonch and other parts of the region are also facing mounting difficulties.

Mehran urged elected representatives to openly address public grievances and called for unity among residents across the region to advocate for their rights through shared consultation. He emphasized that any struggle for public rights must remain peaceful, calling for collective decision-making to address current economic and administrative challenges.

"We are not going to tolerate this oppressive and outdated system, and we stand united against injustice," Mehran said.

The Dhangali route serves as a vital economic lifeline connecting Rawalpindi and Islamabad to multiple districts in Azad Kashmir, including Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli.

Authorities have yet to issue a detailed official statement regarding the reported transport restrictions. Relevant official responses will be incorporated as they become available.

Mehbooba Mufti Says Imran Khan Facing ‘Same Treatment’ He Dealt to Opponents

The Azadi Times
-
0
Mehbooba Mufti Says Imran Khan Facing ‘Same Treatment’ He Dealt to Opponents

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti has remarked that jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is currently facing the same political and legal treatment that he previously meted out to his political opponents.

Making the observation during a public interaction, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir pointed to the cyclical nature of political retaliation in the region. She suggested that the actions taken against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder reflect the methods earlier employed during his own tenure in power.

Mufti’s remarks come amid ongoing legal challenges, detentions, and political pressure surrounding Imran Khan and his party in Pakistan, which have drawn international attention and domestic debate across the sub-continent.

Political analysts frequently debate the precedents set by successive administrations regarding the handling of political opposition in both Pakistan and the broader region. However, Mufti's comments highlight how political figures across the border view the unfolding legal battles of Pakistan's former leader through the lens of historical political rivalry.

The PDP leader did not elaborate further on specific judicial cases, but her statement underscores the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the legal proceedings involving Khan since his ouster from power.

1...121314...253Page 13 of 253