News
December 06, 2024
Despite Court Ruling, Civil Society Persists with Strike Call in AJK
Muzaffarabad: A coalition of civil society organizations leading a rights movement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday reaffirmed its call for a state-wide strike against a controversial presidential ordinance , notwithstanding the suspension of the law by the territory’s Supreme Court and the government’s insistence that protests were unwarranted.
Leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) continued their mass mobilization efforts across AJK, urging public support for Thursday’s strike . However, at a press conference, four cabinet members argued that the Supreme Court’s suspension of the ordinance rendered protests unjustified.
“The Supreme Court’s ruling has elevated the sanctity of the system and proven that decisions are made under the rule of law, not on the streets. Everyone is obligated to respect the top court’s verdicts,” said Information Minister Pir Mazhar Saeed, flanked by colleagues Sardar Javed Ayoub, Abdul Majid Khan, and Nisar Ansar Abdali.
Calling for an end to the culture of strikes, the minister added: “Azad Kashmir is a peaceful and hospitable region, and strikes and protests tarnish its image.”
Social media was awash with contrasting views on the strike. While anti-strike voices echoed the cabinet’s position, others highlighted that the Supreme Court had only suspended the ordinance’s operation until the case’s final adjudication, not repealed.
“Our campaign is for the fundamental rights of the citizens of this state, which this law compromises. A peaceful strike will send a loud and clear message about the people’s commitment to civil liberties,” said Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a JKJAAC core committee member. - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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