PPP, PML-N activists clash in Azad Kashmir

Jiyala killed, 10 injured; Army called out, judicial commission set up to probe incident; Bilawal demands action against culprits, Pervaiz Rashid advocates code of conduct for AJK polls

MIRPUR: A Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) jiyala was killed in a clash with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) activists in the Nakayal area of Kotli district in Azad Jammu and Kashmir during an election campaign on Saturday.

The deceased was identified as Munshi Khan. Duty Officer Police Control Room Kotli confirmed the death of the political worker. Workers of the two political groups came face to face raising slogans. Their verbal brawl then turned into a bloody fight as they started pelting stones and other objects on one another.

As a result, Munshi Khan was killed on the spot while ten others were injured. Police resorted to aerial firing, teargas shelling and baton charge to disperse the clashing groups. 

The injured were rushed to Nakyal and District Hospital Kotli where four of them were reported to be in a critical condition.

Pakistan Army troops were called to the area to control the situation. A judicial commission has also been established to probe the incident. 

Chief Secretary of AJK Sikandar Sultan Raja has also taken serious note of the unpleasant incident and directed commissioner Mirpur Division to hold an inquiry and report to the CS office in the next 24 hours and take every possible step to maintain the law and order situation.

The chief secretary also directed deputy commissioner Kotli to take every possible step to maintain law and order. He said that nobody will be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

Meanwhile, the PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned the armed attack on the PPP workers convention in Nakial.

The PPP chairman said some PML-N federal ministers were using foul language and were seen instigating violence against the PPP workers and supporters in AJK. Bilawal alleged the PML-N has adopted dictatorial tactics and let loose its armed goons to mount murderous attacks on political gatherings of the PPP ahead of the general elections. 

He asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to bridle his ministers from promoting violence and using lethal weapons against opponents otherwise he would be held responsible for the consequences. He further said that those who killed and maimed PPP workers in Nakial won’t go scot free and all legal means should be utilised to bring them to book. 

The PPP chairman expressed sympathies with the families of martyrs and those injured and added that their sacrifices won’t go in vain.

Meanwhile, Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid called upon all political parties to evolve a code of conduct to ensure peace during elections in Azad Kashmir.

Talking to newsmen in Islamabad, he said a peaceful atmosphere can be maintained by avoiding negative slogans. He regretted that the prime minister of Azad Kashmir recently used language that amounted to encouraging violence.