Muzaffarabad, Azadi Times Latest – AJK, February 27, 2024: The dismissal of 954 skilled grade employees from service without due process by the Forest Department has sparked vigorous protests in Muzaffarabad, capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Demonstrators brandished banners and placards, voicing slogans against the unjust actions and unfair policies of the government, particularly regarding the rights of low-ranking employees and its biased policies towards the underprivileged.
Shaukat Javed Mir, Central Deputy Secretary of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and candidate for Assembly Constituency Seven, led the protest rally in response to the call of the dismissed employees.
Addressing the massive gathering, Mir expressed solidarity with the demonstrators and denounced the alleged victimization and sycophancy of Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq. Mir emphasized that while a government of oppression may prevail, injustices and unfairness are detested by the Almighty.
Mir further highlighted the plight of the besieged Kashmir House in Islamabad and urged Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq to focus on alleviating economic hurdles and reinstating the 1,500 dismissed employees instead of indulging in flattery and servitude.
He likened the economic hardship faced by forest conservationists, who risk their lives protecting forests day and night for a meager compensation of Rs. 15,000, to a divine warning.
Referring to recent prompt actions against violations of Indian airspace, Mir praised the arrest of a pilot as a courageous move to demonstrate professional prowess and ensure the nation’s security. He reiterated unwavering support for the indefatigable efforts towards liberation, denouncing terrorism, and lawlessness, and advocating for national progress.
Mir concluded by urging Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to play a key role in saving a thousand families from destitution.
The demonstration featured representatives from various sectors, including pensioners associations, political and religious groups, traders, and students, all echoing demands for justice and expressing unconditional solidarity with the dismissed employees.
The protest rally in Muzaffarabad resonated with chants affirming the employees’ demands, underscoring a resolute stance against injustice and exploitation.