"AJK" · 총 19건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.3
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 86,082건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.2(균형)입니다. 긍정 4,274건(5.0%)·중립 79,682건(92.6%)·부정 2,126건(2.5%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 14.8(중도 균형)입니다.
Pengerusi PN Johor itu persoal sama ada PAS setuju cadangan AJK PAS Pusat Annuar Musa berkait Umno bertanding 80% hingga 90% kerusi Melayu, manakala PAS maksimum 20% kerusi.
The government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday declared the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation and placed it under the First Schedule of the region’s Anti-Terrorism Act 2014. The notification by AJK’s Home Department said the group is “engaged in terrorism” and has acted in a manner “prejudicial to peace and security” of the state. It further stated that JAAC is involved in “creating anarchy in the state by intimidating public, promoting hatred and creating a sense of insecurity in society and public at large etc”. “Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred under section 12 of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014, the President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir has accorded approval to list the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC), also known by names such as Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and Awami Action Committee (AAC) etc, in the First Schedule of ATA, 2014, Proscribed Organization for the purpose of the said Act.” The government took the measure following a strike call by the group for June 9. The group’s latest protest call centres on a highly contentious demand to abolish the 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly that are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. JAAC alleged that these seats are frequently used by mainstream Pakistani political parties to influence the formation of governments in Muzaffarabad. On Thursday, the AJK Legislative Assembly strongly defended the status quo, backing the refugee seats and calling for elections to proceed on schedule. Anxious to prevent a repeat of past bloodshed, Islamabad dispatched federal paramilitary forces to reinforce the region’s thinly stretched police force. On Thursday, AJK Inspector General of Police Captain (retired) Liaqat Ali Malik formally requested 14,000 additional personnel from the federal government to secure the territory from June 7 to June 21. Video footage circulating on Friday showed convoys of security personnel entering Muzaffarabad, suggesting that reinforcements were already being moved into the region ahead of the planned strike. “Our foremost responsibility is to protect public and private life and property, and the police will act in accordance with their mandate,” Malik told Dawn earlier. Meanwhile, speculation mounted on social media that authorities might suspend internet and mobile data services, as they had during the weeklong JAAC strike in September-October last year. The previous shutdown had severely disrupted academic activities, online businesses and freelance work, while also hampering communication by rendering internet-based calling and messaging services inaccessible across the region. Separately, the University of AJK on Friday postponed its Spring 2026 term examinations, scheduled to commence on June 8, until further orders in view of the JAAC strike call. More to follow
The government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday banned the region’s Joint Awami Action Committee’s (JAAC) and placed it under the First Schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014. The notification by Azad Kashmir’s Home Department said the group is “engaged in terrorism” and has acted in a manner “prejudicial to peace and security” of the state. It further stated that JAAC is involved in “creating anarchy in the state by intimidating public, promoting hatred and creating a sense of insecurity in society and public at large etc”. The government took the measure following a strike call by the group for June 9. The group’s latest protest call centres on a highly contentious demand to abolish the 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly that are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. JAAC alleged that these seats are frequently used by mainstream Pakistani political parties to influence the formation of governments in Muzaffarabad. On Thursday, the AJK Legislative Assembly strongly defended the status quo, backing the refugee seats and calling for elections to proceed on schedule. Anxious to prevent a repeat of past bloodshed, Islamabad dispatched federal paramilitary forces to reinforce the region’s thinly stretched police force. On Thursday, AJK Inspector General of Police Captain (retired) Liaqat Ali Malik formally requested 14,000 additional personnel from the federal government to secure the territory from June 7 to June 21. Video footage circulating on Friday showed convoys of security personnel entering Muzaffarabad, suggesting that reinforcements were already being moved into the region ahead of the planned strike. “Our foremost responsibility is to protect public and private life and property, and the police will act in accordance with their mandate,” Malik told Dawn earlier. Meanwhile, speculation mounted on social media that authorities might suspend internet and mobile data services, as they had during the weeklong JAAC strike in September-October last year. The previous shutdown had severely disrupted academic activities, online businesses and freelance work, while also hampering communication by rendering internet-based calling and messaging services inaccessible across the region. Separately, the University of AJK on Friday postponed its Spring 2026 term examinations, scheduled to commence on June 8, until further orders in view of the JAAC strike call. More to follow
Supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee chant slogans following a shutter-down strike in Muzaffarabad on October 2, 2025. — ReutersThe Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has issued a travel advisory urging tourists and other visitors to avoid travelling to the...
MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Friday urged outsiders to avoid travelling to the region and asked current visitors to leave immediately, ahead of a major protest that has prompted the deployment of federal paramilitary troops. The strict travel advisory, effective from June 5 to June 20, comes in response to a strike call for June 9 by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society alliance spearheading a volatile rights movement in the territory. “The measure is advised to save intending visitors from any unexpected situation or inconvenience,” an unnamed official spokesperson said in a press release issued by the region’s Press Information Department (PID). “The government also requests those already in the territory for sightseeing or any other purpose to leave by Friday evening so that they do not confront any unpleasant situation,” the spokesperson added. Zahid Aslam, who owns a guest house in Neelum Valley, told Dawn that the administration had urged him to ask his guests to leave. His guest house was booked till June 16, but guests are now requesting refunds. The JAAC has previously led mass demonstrations over local economic grievances and political rights that turned deadly during clashes with law enforcement in May 2024 and September 2025. The alliance’s latest protest wave centres on a highly contentious demand to abolish the 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly that are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. JAAC alleges that these seats are frequently used by mainstream Pakistani political parties to influence the formation of governments in Muzaffarabad. On Thursday, the AJK Legislative Assembly strongly defended the status quo, backing the refugee seats and calling for elections to proceed on schedule. Anxious to prevent a repeat of past bloodshed, Islamabad has dispatched federal paramilitary forces to reinforce the region’s thinly stretched police force. On Thursday, AJK Inspector General of Police Captain (retired) Liaqat Ali Malik formally requested 14,000 additional personnel from the federal government to secure the territory from June 7 to June 21. Video footage circulating on Friday showed convoys of security personnel entering Muzaffarabad, suggesting that reinforcements were already being moved into the region ahead of the planned strike. “Our foremost responsibility is to protect public and private life and property, and the police will act in accordance with their mandate,” Malik told Dawn. “I urge people not to join any mob seeking to create unrest or attack security forces. Anyone with grievances or demands should pursue them through democratic and peaceful means,” he added. A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the requisitioned force was “well over 14,000”, as two additional requests had been sent to the federal government for supplementary deployments. Meanwhile, speculation mounted on social media that authorities might suspend internet and mobile data services from Friday midnight, as they had during the weeklong JAAC strike in September-October last year. The previous shutdown had severely disrupted academic activities, online businesses and freelance work, while also hampering communication by rendering internet-based calling and messaging services inaccessible across the region. There was, however, no immediate official confirmation of the reports. Separately, the University of AJK on Friday postponed its Spring 2026 term examinations, scheduled to commence on June 8, until further orders in view of the JAAC strike call.
MUZAFFARABAD: The general elections for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will be held on July 27, the AJK Election Commission notified on Friday. The notification, a copy of which is available with Dawn, said that candidates could file their nomination papers with returning officers from June 9 to 4pm on June 19. It said that the scrutiny of nomination papers would be carried out from June 20, while the list of the eligible candidates would be submitted on the same day. It stated that the candidates will have between June 21 and June 24 to file appeals against rejection/acceptance of nomination papers, and the appeals will be heard on June 26 and 27 between 9am and 4pm. According to the notification, the last date for decisions on appeals will be June 28 to June 29, and candidates can withdraw until June 30 before 2pm. The list of contesting candidates will be published on July 1, and symbols will be allotted along with the final list the next day on July 2. July 27 was notified as the polling day, with voting to begin at 8am and end at 5pm. More to follow.
The Rajkot police are coordinating DNA profiling using samples from the grieving family.
ISLAMABAD: PTI leaders on Thursday arrived at Adiala jail hoping to meet party founder Imran Khan but were once again denied permission to meet the former prime minister. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has allowed the incarcerated ex-premier to have twice-a-week meetings — on Tuesdays and Thursdays — with his family, lawyers and other associates. Despite the order, Imran has been restricted from meeting visitors for several months. A day earlier, the PTI sent a list of six leaders to Adiala jail authorities, requesting that they arrange a meeting with the incarcerated former premier. The list included Seemabia Tahir, Usman Jora, Asad Abbas, Malik Yasir Patwali, Malik Azeem and Rohail Anjum. Patwali, while speaking to Dawn, said that all the leaders arrived at the prison well before 2pm. “We informed the prison administration that we had been nominated for the meeting, as per the directions of the IHC, but we were told that a message was being sent for approval,” he said. “Officials also recorded our video footage and asked us to wait. We waited there until 4pm, which was the cutoff time for the meeting, but we were not allowed to meet Khan sahib,” he added. Patwali said he would work with lawyers to file a contempt petition. Since his name was on the list, he said he was unable to file the petition himself. Replying to a question, Patwali said the government should understand that the PTI would form the government in the future, adding: “So the government should be ready to face the brunt.” Seemabia, while speaking to Dawn, said that police did not allow PTI leaders to approach Adiala jail and instead asked them to park their vehicles on the side of the road. “We recorded our protest and then returned. We demand that Imran Khan be admitted to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment,” she said. Pre-Poll Rigging Separately, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram condemned the government for unleashing “fascism” ahead of the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). “Central PTI leaders are being subjected to name-based profiling, forced movement restrictions, and NOC (no-objection certificate) denials, while the Election Commission, administration and police are colluding to pressure candidates into abandoning the party,” he claimed. He alleged that the “same discriminatory tactics” were being used in AJK to sideline PTI, warning that such provocative actions in sensitive areas risk creating lasting divisions and that the party was poised to win a majority. “The abrupt and indefinite delay in presenting the federal budget is a humiliating confession of economic bankruptcy and the complete surrender of national sovereignty to the IMF, which now micro-manages every tax, revenue target and utility tariff,” Akram said. “The so-called differences between PPP and PML-N over provincial funds and agricultural taxes are a staged drama to fool the people while both parties collude in economic destruction,” he alleged. Imran — imprisoned since Aug 5, 2023, for concealing details of Toshakhana gifts — is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in a £190 million corruption case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case. Earlier this week, Imran’s sister Aleema Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi went to the prison for a meeting with the PTI founder, but were once again denied a meeting with Imran. Speaking to the media outside the prison, Aleema said it was their constitutional right to meet Imran. She vowed to continue visiting Adiala, saying it was the only way to exert pressure on the “powers that be”.
ISLAMABAD: Only two in 10 Pakistanis surveyed believe the country is on the right track, with optimism higher among some groups, a survey conducted by market research company Ipsos shows. Men are more optimistic than women, while rural residents show more optimism than those in urban areas. Of the four provinces, respondents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the most optimistic about Pakistan’s economy. The survey also found that confidence in the country’s direction has fallen to 22pc, following a 40pc peak earlier this year amid US–Iran tensions. The drop indicates a sharp reversal of recent gains, returning to levels broadly comparable with the Covid-19 period. The survey, conducted last month, included interviews with more than 1,000 people from all four provinces of Pakistan, as well as Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The most pressing issues mentioned in the survey include economic anxiety, unemployment and inflation. When asked about the current state of the economy, only one in five respondents said the economy was strong. Among respondents, men were more optimistic than women, and young people were more optimistic than older people. Furthermore, residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan were more optimistic than those in Punjab. Respondents identifying as lower-middle-income also showed more optimism than those in other income groups. As many as 7pc of respondents said they feel comfortable making household purchases, with comfort higher among young people, the upper-middle class, urban residents and respondents in Sindh. The level of comfort with household purchases has returned to Covid-era levels after a period of stabilisation amid global economic pressures. The survey shows that only two in 10 respondents expect the economy to strengthen, with optimism concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, affluent areas, rural areas and among older respondents. “Expectations for the economy have declined as rising economic pressures drive a gradual return of pessimism. Personal financial optimism has fallen to 31pc amid weaker sentiment and continued sensitivity to geopolitical shocks such as US–Iran tensions,” it stated. It also found that confidence in personal financial situations has fallen to 31pc, with relatively higher optimism among youth, men, rural residents, respondents in Punjab and Balochistan, and upper-income groups. “Confidence in investment remains low at 14pc after a period of stabilisation, with higher optimism among the upper-middle class, respondents in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and among men. Comfort in making major purchases remains low at 5pc, stabilising after earlier gains during and after the Pakistan–India conflict,” it said. The findings show that only one in five Pakistanis feel secure in their jobs, with higher confidence among men, young people, mid-career cohorts and rural residents. Job security confidence, which had nearly doubled over the past two years, has now fallen to 17pc amid US–Iran tensions.
MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has said his government is making every effort to prevent the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) from taking to the streets again, stressing that the dispute over the 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Kashmir should be resolved through negotiations and political consensus. Answering questions during an interview with a private TV channel, he asserted that his government had made sincere efforts to implement the agreement reached with the action committee following last year’s protest movement and had resolved almost all issues contained in its charter of demands. “Almost all demands included in the charter of demands were fulfilled, except for one relating to the abolition of refugee seats, which subsequently became the central issue around which the movement was revived,” he said. Referring to recent negotiations with JAAC, Rathore said: “We have had very productive discussions with members of the Action Committee. However, the issue of abolishing refugee seats is a constitutional matter that cannot be decided by a single political party alone. It requires a broad consensus among all stakeholders.” Claims his government has made sincere efforts to implement agreement reached with the action committee “We wanted the JAAC to extend its call for protest, but they declined, although they agreed to keep the door for negotiations open until June 7,” he added. The AJK premier said the issue had also been discussed with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and reiterated that the government did not want the state to face another period of unrest. “These people are our own. They certainly have the right to raise their concerns and it is our responsibility to listen to them and understand their point of view, and we are doing that,” he said. Rathore said that decisions affecting the future of the state should be taken through representative institutions rather than through street agitation, adding that many JAAC members also favoured a negotiated settlement. Referring to the refugee seats controversy, he said it was often argued that these were open to manipulation because the elections were conducted under the influence of provincial governments. He, however, said refugees had made significant sacrifices and played an important role in the state’s affairs and they could not be ignored under any circumstances. “Regardless of political interests or affiliations, the interests of the state must come first.” Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2026
A vehicle drives past a partially collapsed section of the Karakoram Highway damaged after a lake outburst near Hassanabad village of Gilgit-Baltistan region. — AFP/FileThe National Disaster Management Authority’s National Emergencies Operation Centre has issued a...
Political bigwigs on Tuesday sought to garner public support in Gilgit-Baltistan (BG) as PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari addressed rallies ahead of the June 7 elections. General elections in GB are scheduled for Sunday, after a four-month delay attributed to harsh winter weather. Addressing a public gathering in Skardu, where First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari was also present, Bilawal called for greater rights for the people of GB. “I have to struggle along with GB’s new generation […] If we have to implement the manifesto of roti, kapra, makaan in its true sense, then we will have to work on three rules — we will have to attain the right to haq-i-hakimiyat (right to govern), haq-i-malkiyat (right to ownership), and haq-i-rozgaar (right to employment),” Bilawal said. He further said, “The struggle of PPP’s new generation will be to get you your right to govern, and that will happen when GB will get the protections, facilities and powers provided in the 18th Amendment.” Bilawal had begun his speech by condemning Israeli attacks on Iran. Recalling the US-Israel’s deadly strikes on Iran, including one that killed students at a school, as well as the assassination of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Bilawal said it did not seem “appropriate to run an election campaign” in an elaborate manner. “I toured GB on foot in the last elections. I wanted to do the same this time,” he said, adding that there was an “air of grief” for the people in GB and him. The PPP chairman praised Pakistan’s ongoing efforts for peace in the region, including the role played by CDF Munir. “It is extremely important that the effort for peace succeeds, because the people of Iran and Palestine and the entire Muslim world are bearing the burden of this war, but at the same time, the entire world’s youth are also facing that burden,” he said, noting the conflict’s economic impact and the resulting inflation. The Bhutto scion asserted that the PPP was the “only party that represents the underprivileged and the poor”. “We first think of the underprivileged, then we ask the developing. We first think of the labourers, then ask the business people. We first ask the farmers, then ask the landlords,” he added. Bilawal emphasised that the country could only develop once the working masses and the youth were economically empowered, claiming that other political parties were in favour of making the affluent wealthier. “Progress is when the farmer gets their hard work’s fruit, progress is when employment opportunities are created for the youth,” he said, recalling that the policies of his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto “made labourers the owners of mills”. He went on to recall a slogan from the tenure of his mother, ex-premier Benazir Bhutto — “Benazir aye gi, rozgaar laye gi [Benazir will come, and bring employment]” — prompting the supporters to raise the same chants. He also praised his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, for launching the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) during his previous tenure as president. Earlier in the day, ex-premier Nawaz reached Gilgit for a one-day visit and lamented the lack of development in the region. “I am speaking to you after many years. Isn’t that the case? Perhaps you have forgotten me,” Nawaz said while addressing the public in Gilgit, prompting roaring chants in his support. Noting that he was fond of mountains, Nawaz stressed he “wholeheartedly loved” GB. “When I love the area from my heart, then why would I not love the people from my heart? You live in my heart,” he quipped. The PML-N chief then went on to lament the lack of development in the region. “When I saw the condition of the roads after exiting the airport, I cannot even describe it. It hurt me immensely. Where is the Gilgit that I used to know?” he said. “My heart cries on why this was allowed, why the money that should have been spent on you all was not done so,” Nawaz remarked. Noting there were “so many potholes”, Nawaz recalled that the PML-N had in the past worked on constructing roads and asked why the project was not extended to Gilgit as originally planned. “I do not want to speak against any party or government, but my heart urges me to ask them that you got the chance to serve this country, then why did you ignore this area?” the ex-premier asked. He added that the PML-N did not seek votes by criticising other parties, but rather based on the work it did. “The road that I had started was not built up to here, it should have been and then built further till Khunjerab,” he said, highlighting that building the road till Skardu had cost Rs50 billion. “It is the right of the people of GB, not a favour that I am doing to you,” he added. The ex-premier highlighted that the PML-N government had constructed hospitals, power plants and hydel power plants. “Tell me if any other party has even placed a brick here,” he jibed, with supporters responding in the negative. “It saddens me that the airport has remained the same as it was in my tenure,” Nawaz said, pointing out that it had not been expanded and the air traffic to the tourist hotspot had not increased. The PML-N president then assured the GB residents that he would hold a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and ask him to expand the airport so that commercial jets could operate there. Flaunting the shortened commute time from Gilgit to Skardu, Nawaz said, “We reduced a nine-hour journey to three hours, saving you six hours, making things easy for your kids and families.” The former premier lamented, “Projects are launched here but they are never seen completed.” He highlighted that there was great potential for generating hydel and solar electricity in the region. Noting load-shedding of over 20 hours in winters and of up to 12 hours in summers, he said, “It is unacceptable to me.” Nawaz said that regardless of whether the PML-N wins the elections or not, “we cannot keep you deprived of these things”, vowing to speak to PM Shehbaz about electricity outages in GB. The PML-N supremo said he will urge both PM Shehbaz and his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, to visit GB, also pledging to visit the region every two to three months if his party is elected. Nawaz also mentioned his last ouster during his speech, recalling that he had formed a committee as the prime minister in 2017 on GB’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. “Do not complain to me. I am not ready to hear this grievance because this is your fault as well, that why you let a person like me be exiled,” he said. “Why did I have to leave the country and go abroad? Why were [we] jailed?” Terming GB the “centre” of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Nawaz called for it to be developed further, with electric buses launched and hospitals built. He vowed that the cancer hospital built by the PML-N in GB would be expanded. He also advocated for housing loan schemes for the residents of GB and interest-free loan programmes for youth for their businesses. The PML-N president also pledged to have a women’s university constructed if his party got the chance to govern the region. “It is exam day for you three days from now,” Nawaz quipped, referring to the polling day. Nawaz was also set to meet with party ticket holders during his GB visit. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Rana Sanaullah, Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, senators Pervaiz Rasheed and Anusha Rahman, and MPA Kazim Ali Pirzada were accompanying Nawaz, state-run PTV said. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Amir Muqam, Nawaz’s son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar, PML-N’s former GB chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman and other party members welcomed the PML-N supremo upon his arrival. In a post on X earlier in the day, the PML-N said the Election Commission of GB had issued a no-objection certificate allowing Nawaz to visit GB and “lead his party’s political campaign for the upcoming general elections”. Elected as an MNA in the February 2024 general elections, Nawaz makes rare public appearances. However, he serves as the PML-N’s key decision-maker and as a political mentor to CM Maryam. Earlier in April, Nawaz had vowed that, if elected in GB, the party would focus on development in the region. Saad Rafique calls for ‘comprehensive plan’ for GB’s constitutional status Prior to Nawaz’s arrival, senior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique addressed a gathering in Skardu, where he emphasised the need to address the issue of GB’s constitutional rights through a “comprehensive plan”. “Till how long will the issue (GB’s constitutional status) remain undecided?” Rafique asked, stressing that while “Kashmir was an important issue, but so was the future of the people of GB”. “The time has come for the parliament to debate the matter,” he said, adding that it was the collective responsibility of all parties, state institutions and security institutions to take GB forward. The PML-N leader further called for an equitable share for GB and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the NFC Award. He also said that Nawaz would announce the party’s “charter” during his GB visit. Noting the lack of development in the region, Rafique acknowledged that “no government will be able to solve everything in five years”. However, he emphasised, a direction for the future could be determined. “The PML-N laid down that foundation in their last tenure,” he added. Recalling that the region had seen tenures of three different parties, he called on the people to “vote for whoever did the most work”. “Seven to eight flights operate from here every day; this can be quadrupled, dams can be made,” Rafique said, outlining potential for “small viable projects to tackle GB’s electricity issues” as well as improved internet and road connectivity in the region.
Former prime minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday lamented the lack of development in Gilgit-Baltistan, as he made a brief visit to the region ahead of elections there. General elections in GB are scheduled for June 7, after a four-month delay attributed to harsh winter weather. “I am speaking to you after many years. Isn’t that the case? Perhaps you have forgotten me,” Nawaz said while addressing the public in Gilgit, prompting roaring chants in his support. Noting that he was fond of mountains, Nawaz stressed he “wholeheartedly loved” GB. “When I love the area from my heart, then why would I not love the people from my heart? You live in my heart,” he quipped. The PML-N chief then went on to lament the lack of development in GB. “When I saw the condition of the roads after exiting the airport, I cannot even describe it. It hurt me immensely. Where is the Gilgit that I used to know?” he said. “My heart cries on why this was allowed, why the money that should have been spent on you all was not done so,” Nawaz remarked. Noting there were “so many potholes”, Nawaz recalled that the PML-N had in the past worked on constructing roads and asked why the project was not extended to Gilgit as originally planned. “I do not want to speak against any party or government, but my heart urges me to ask them that you got the chance to serve this country, then why did you ignore this area?” the ex-premier asked. He added that the PML-N did not seek votes by criticising other parties, but rather based on the work it did. “The road that I had started was not built upto here, it should have been and then built further till Khunjerab,” he said, highlighting that the cost of building the road till Skardu had cost Rs50 billion. “It is the right of people of GB, not a favour that I am doing to you,” he added. Nawaz is also set to meet with party ticket holders contesting the polls. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Rana Sanaullah, Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, senators Pervaiz Rasheed and Anusha Rahman, and MPA Kazim Ali Pirzada are accompanying Nawaz, state-run PTV said. Minister for Kashmir Affairs and GB Amir Muqam, Nawaz’s son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar, PML-N’s former GB chief minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman and other party members welcomed the PML-N supremo upon his arrival. In a post on X earlier in the day, the PML-N said the Election Commission of GB had issued a no-objection certificate allowing Nawaz to visit GB and “lead his party’s political campaign for the upcoming general elections”. Elected as an MNA in the February 2024 general elections, Nawaz makes rare public appearances. However, he serves as the PML-N’s key decision-maker and as a political mentor to his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. Earlier in April, Nawaz had vowed that, if elected in GB, the party would focus on development in the region. Saad Rafique calls for ‘comprehensive plan’ for GB’s constitutional status Earlier on Tuesday, senior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique addressed a gathering in Skardu, where he emphasised the need to address the issue of GB’s constitutional rights through a “comprehensive plan”. “Till how long will the issue (GB’s constitutional status) remain undecided?” Rafique asked, stressing that while “Kashmir was an important issue, but so was the future of the people of GB”. “The time has come for the parliament to debate the matter,” he said, adding that it was the collective responsibility of all parties, state institutions and security institutions to take GB forward. The PML-N leader further called for an equitable share for GB and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. He also said that Nawaz would announce the party’s “charter” during his GB visit. Noting the lack of development in the region, Rafique acknowledged that “no government will be able to solve everything in five years”. However, he emphasised, a direction for the future could be determined. “PML-N laid down that foundation in their last tenure,” he added. Recalling that the region had seen tenures of three different parties, he called on the people to “vote for whoever did the most work”. “Seven to eight flights operate from here every day; this can be quadrupled, dams can be made,” Rafique said, outlining potential for “small viable projects to tackle GB’s electricity issues” as well as improved internet and road connectivity in the region. More to follow
POLITICS in Pakistan appears to be dead. However, this is only because of the beating it has taken. Like whack-a-mole, it pops up when least expected. The moment headlines about international events no longer take up all the oxygen in the room, the fractious world of Pakistani politics begins to draw attention to itself. It was no different this time around. Once the US-Iran saga settled into ‘deal is a-comin’’, commentary here focused on how the foreign policy successes had not translated into any relief for inflation-afflicted Pakistanis. By now, questions have multiplied about the mess that is the economy. These questions will simply grow as budget time draws closer and summer power bills multiply. That’s not all. The impending elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and beyond have highlighted the same issues that the government and others have been at pains to ignore. Elections in GB are scheduled to be held this month, after a delay of around four months due to ‘bad weather’. Elections for around 24 directly elected seats will take place in the first week of June. Keeping precedent in mind, the electoral trend favours the party in power in Islamabad. But those on the ground are not so sure. According to them, voters tend to see the government in Islamabad as a coalition and hence expect a similar mish-mash in poll results — some form of a PML-N-PPP combine. And because the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (of the Aleem Khan fame) is also campaigning hard there, the guess is that it may also have been promised something. It is difficult for a couch potato to tell how much of the result will come from the voting and how much from the powers who cannot be named. Let’s not forget the rumours regarding the need to remind the PPP of its place in the system. However, many people have worked hard to ensure that there will be questions about the election’s credibility. One party is — as expected — without an election symbol. And its leadership has been stopped from campaigning freely; Junaid Akbar was stopped while Asad Qaiser claims he was prevented from boarding a flight to the region. Such ham-handed tactics are hard to understand in a region which has rarely ever gone against Islamabad but they have strengthened the perception that the PTI is popular there. This is not to say politics is limited to the crackdown on the PTI. Essentially, and beyond political parties, the real issue is about a state unwilling to grant space to ordinary people. Consider Azad Kashmir. Elections in the area will be held around July but the government is already worried. The discontent there is no secret, though reporting on it remains limited. The protests last year were controlled or subdued by eventually holding negotiations with protesters led by the Joint Awami Action Committee, which enjoys widespread and cross-party support. These included a change in government — a coalition government led by dissident PTI wallahs was replaced by the PPP. Many of the demands of the protesters were agreed to while implementation and negotiations continued. The real issue is about a state unwilling to grant space to ordinary people. However, the issue of refugee seats outside Kashmir continues to hang fire. Elections are held on these seats outside AJK, though the victors are part of the AJK legislature. The committee wants the seats abolished because the perception is that these seats are won through manipulation and that these legislators are used to make and break governments at others’ behest. But unlike many of the other issues, it has been hard to reach an agreement on the matter. It was one of the key demands of the committee but the government was not very keen to address it. With elections approaching, the problem is becoming urgent. Over the weekend, the two sides had carried out lengthy negotiations which ended without resolution and so far the committee’s call for a protest in the first week of June remains on the table. Whether or not there can be a breakthrough before that is unclear. The government will make an effort to talk and negotiate again but whether they can reach an understanding which satisfies both sides is unclear. However, in each case the plotline is in many ways familiar: be it the economy overall, the general elections or election time in special regions, people want change. Change in the manner in which the economy is run; change in the way elections are managed; change in how their voice is heard and heeded. At the other end, there is the status quo. One can call it the ‘establishment’, ‘traditional parties’, electables, economic and other elites who are comfortable and averse to changing a system that affords them influence and wealth. So people are, for different reasons in different regions, growing resentful. Somewhere, the anger is suppressed and elsewhere it is apparent in protests. But instead of understanding the crisis, those in power continue to try and clamp down. Negotiations and talks are seen as an option only when the use of force doesn’t prove effective. But this option is also selectively applied. For instance, protests in the region got out of hand when the government finally sat down with the JAAC. In GB earlier this year, the sectarian issue led to violence but the effort to hold talks later wasn’t all that successful and was overshadowed by the Iran war. Many of us had forgotten AJK, but now it is back in the news. Soon it will be the turn of some other region in the country. It’s hard to tell which one, but the simmering continues in many places. Any place can boil over if we don’t pay attention. The writer is a journalist. Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026
• Only Rs1.13tr allocated to PSDP against Rs4.1tr requirement; minister terms shortfall ‘new circular debt crisis’ • Record Rs4.715tr development plan unveiled • APCC resolves to divert resources to ongoing projects ISLAMABAD: Under tight International Monetary Fund (IMF) oversight, the government has trimmed allocations for most sectors in the next federal development programme to create additional fiscal space for the PML-N’s trademark national highways, a new Rs87 billion share for coalition partners and a Rs70bn allocation for ruling party lawmakers’ schemes. Yet, the Annual Plan Coordination Committee, led by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, on Monday unveiled a record national development programme of Rs4.715 trillion, made possible by an unprecedented 27pc hike in development allocations by state-owned entities and a 10pc rise in provincial allocations to an all-time high of Rs3.138tr. The overall Rs4.715tr development portfolio comprises the largest share of provincial annual development plans (ADPs) at Rs3.138tr (up 9.6pc), followed by the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of Rs1.126tr, up 12.6pc from the current year, and Rs451bn from SOEs, up 27pc from Rs355bn in the current fiscal year. However, the federal PSDP allocation of Rs1.126tr for next year disappointed the planning minister, who described it as “a new circular debt crisis”, with almost Rs11tr in throw-forward liabilities from around 800 ongoing projects that would be impossible to complete over the next decade. He said he had requested the prime minister for a minimum allocation of Rs2.9tr for development next year against actual requirements of Rs4.1tr, but the Ministry of Finance could spare only Rs1.126tr owing to IMF restrictions. Mr Iqbal said development projects had come to a standstill over the past eight years after record development investments between 2013 and 2018. He said it should be a matter of shame that the country continued to celebrate raising foreign debt and issuing bonds to service liabilities instead of supporting export growth to finance national development and social welfare needs. Even within the constrained PSDP allocation of Rs1.126tr, which includes Rs267bn in foreign assistance, about Rs125bn pertains to the N-25 highway in Balochistan, for which the prime minister had separately imposed an additional Rs10 per litre levy on petroleum products. This effectively leaves the PSDP size at Rs1.001tr — almost unchanged from the current year’s Rs1tr allocation, which was later reduced to Rs836bn to partially finance the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The government has allocated Rs264bn for national highways next year, up 18.4pc from Rs223bn in the current fiscal year, while the power sector has been earmarked Rs91bn, almost unchanged from this year’s Rs90.8bn. The planning minister told the APCC that after allocating Rs87bn for coalition partners, Rs70bn for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Achievement Programme, Rs100bn for Balochistan projects excluding the N-25, and Rs153bn for AJK, GB and the newly-merged districts of KP, the actual PSDP allocation drops to a “disgraceful” Rs591bn. After meeting the Rs426bn rupee-cover requirement for foreign-funded projects, only Rs165bn remains available for other ongoing schemes. The Rs3.138tr provincial development outlay is led by Punjab, which has allocated Rs1.450tr (46pc) for next year, up 17pc. Sindh follows with a relatively restrained development allocation of Rs816bn compared to Rs887bn in the current fiscal year, a decline of 8pc. KP has proposed a development envelope of Rs564bn for next year, up almost 24pc from Rs455bn in the current year. In addition to substantial federal allocations, Balochistan has increased its ADP size to Rs308bn, up 10pc from Rs279bn this year. Based on these financial envelopes, the government has set next year’s economic growth target at 4pc, supported by projected growth of 3.8pc in agriculture, 4pc in industry and 4.2pc in services. Inflation is targeted at 8.2pc. Given the tight fiscal position, the APCC decided to make limited allocations, focusing on strategic and high-impact projects, ensuring adequate rupee cover for foreign-funded schemes to honour international obligations, prioritising projects with more than 70pc completion for early execution, avoiding token allocations, restricting new projects except those aimed at enhancing productivity, and discouraging projects of a provincial nature except in less-developed areas. The sector-wise breakdown shows that the largest share — Rs729.9bn, or 65pc — has been earmarked for infrastructure projects, compared to Rs615bn budgeted in the current fiscal year, an increase of 19pc. Within infrastructure, transport and communications receive the highest allocation at Rs409bn (36pc), compared to Rs326bn in the current year, up 25pc. This is followed by water resources at Rs140bn (12.5pc), energy at Rs136bn (12pc), and physical planning and housing at Rs45bn (4pc). The social sector has been allocated Rs187.2bn (16.6pc), including education (7pc), health (2.2pc), the SDGs Achievement Programme (6.2pc) and other social sectors (1.3pc). To help less-developed regions catch up with the rest of the country, Rs54.1bn (4.8pc) has been earmarked for AJK, GB and the newly merged districts of KP. The science, technology and information technology sector has been allocated Rs45bn (4pc), while governance and production sectors have been allocated Rs10.2bn and 0.8pc of the PSDP, respectively. Iqbal lamented that the country was operating with an extremely reduced PSDP at a time when development needs were rising sharply. He said development space had been squeezed by mounting debt-servicing pressures, prolonged macroeconomic stress and worsening global headwinds. PSDP allocations, he noted, stood at 19.6pc of the national budget and 2.5pc of GDP in FY18, but had fallen to just 4pc of the budget and 0.6pc of GDP by 2025-26. “The PSDP is not merely a budget line — it is a statement of national intent,” the minister said, stressing that development funding was directly linked to economic growth, national productivity and public welfare. He warned that Pakistan was still struggling to recover from the post-2018 economic shock, with debt servicing burdens and recurring external vulnerabilities limiting the country’s ability to invest in transformative projects. Given the limited fiscal space, the APCC decided that more than 98pc of available resources would be directed towards ongoing projects, with priority accorded to high-impact and near-completion schemes, particularly in water, energy, transport and other core infrastructure sectors. Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026
• Only Rs1.13tr allocated to PSDP against Rs4.1tr requirement; minister terms shortfall ‘new circular debt crisis’ • Record Rs4.715tr development plan unveiled • APCC resolves to divert resources to ongoing projects ISLAMABAD: Under tight International Monetary Fund (IMF) oversight, the government has trimmed allocations for most sectors in the next federal development programme to create additional fiscal space for the PML-N’s trademark national highways, a new Rs87 billion share for coalition partners and a Rs70bn allocation for ruling party lawmakers’ schemes. Yet, the Annual Plan Coordination Committee, led by Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, on Monday unveiled a record national development programme of Rs4.715 trillion, made possible by an unprecedented 27pc hike in development allocations by state-owned entities and a 10pc rise in provincial allocations to an all-time high of Rs3.138tr. The overall Rs4.715tr development portfolio comprises the largest share of provincial annual development plans (ADPs) at Rs3.138tr (up 9.6pc), followed by the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of Rs1.126tr, up 12.6pc from the current year, and Rs451bn from SOEs, up 27pc from Rs355bn in the current fiscal year. However, the federal PSDP allocation of Rs1.126tr for next year disappointed the planning minister, who described it as “a new circular debt crisis”, with almost Rs11tr in throw-forward liabilities from around 800 ongoing projects that would be impossible to complete over the next decade. He said he had requested the prime minister for a minimum allocation of Rs2.9tr for development next year against actual requirements of Rs4.1tr, but the Ministry of Finance could spare only Rs1.126tr owing to IMF restrictions. Mr Iqbal said development projects had come to a standstill over the past eight years after record development investments between 2013 and 2018. He said it should be a matter of shame that the country continued to celebrate raising foreign debt and issuing bonds to service liabilities instead of supporting export growth to finance national development and social welfare needs. Even within the constrained PSDP allocation of Rs1.126tr, which includes Rs267bn in foreign assistance, about Rs125bn pertains to the N-25 highway in Balochistan, for which the prime minister had separately imposed an additional Rs10 per litre levy on petroleum products. This effectively leaves the PSDP size at Rs1.001tr — almost unchanged from the current year’s Rs1tr allocation, which was later reduced to Rs836bn to partially finance the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The government has allocated Rs264bn for national highways next year, up 18.4pc from Rs223bn in the current fiscal year, while the power sector has been earmarked Rs91bn, almost unchanged from this year’s Rs90.8bn. The planning minister told the APCC that after allocating Rs87bn for coalition partners, Rs70bn for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Achievement Programme, Rs100bn for Balochistan projects excluding the N-25, and Rs153bn for AJK, GB and the newly-merged districts of KP, the actual PSDP allocation drops to a “disgraceful” Rs591bn. After meeting the Rs426bn rupee-cover requirement for foreign-funded projects, only Rs165bn remains available for other ongoing schemes. The Rs3.138tr provincial development outlay is led by Punjab, which has allocated Rs1.450tr (46pc) for next year, up 17pc. Sindh follows with a relatively restrained development allocation of Rs816bn compared to Rs887bn in the current fiscal year, a decline of 8pc. KP has proposed a development envelope of Rs564bn for next year, up almost 24pc from Rs455bn in the current year. In addition to substantial federal allocations, Balochistan has increased its ADP size to Rs308bn, up 10pc from Rs279bn this year. Based on these financial envelopes, the government has set next year’s economic growth target at 4pc, supported by projected growth of 3.8pc in agriculture, 4pc in industry and 4.2pc in services. Inflation is targeted at 8.2pc. Given the tight fiscal position, the APCC decided to make limited allocations, focusing on strategic and high-impact projects, ensuring adequate rupee cover for foreign-funded schemes to honour international obligations, prioritising projects with more than 70pc completion for early execution, avoiding token allocations, restricting new projects except those aimed at enhancing productivity, and discouraging projects of a provincial nature except in less-developed areas. The sector-wise breakdown shows that the largest share — Rs729.9bn, or 65pc — has been earmarked for infrastructure projects, compared to Rs615bn budgeted in the current fiscal year, an increase of 19pc. Within infrastructure, transport and communications receive the highest allocation at Rs409bn (36pc), compared to Rs326bn in the current year, up 25pc. This is followed by water resources at Rs140bn (12.5pc), energy at Rs136bn (12pc), and physical planning and housing at Rs45bn (4pc). The social sector has been allocated Rs187.2bn (16.6pc), including education (7pc), health (2.2pc), the SDGs Achievement Programme (6.2pc) and other social sectors (1.3pc). To help less-developed regions catch up with the rest of the country, Rs54.1bn (4.8pc) has been earmarked for AJK, GB and the newly merged districts of KP. The science, technology and information technology sector has been allocated Rs45bn (4pc), while governance and production sectors have been allocated Rs10.2bn and 0.8pc of the PSDP, respectively. Iqbal lamented that the country was operating with an extremely reduced PSDP at a time when development needs were rising sharply. He said development space had been squeezed by mounting debt-servicing pressures, prolonged macroeconomic stress and worsening global headwinds. PSDP allocations, he noted, stood at 19.6pc of the national budget and 2.5pc of GDP in FY18, but had fallen to just 4pc of the budget and 0.6pc of GDP by 2025-26. “The PSDP is not merely a budget line — it is a statement of national intent,” the minister said, stressing that development funding was directly linked to economic growth, national productivity and public welfare. He warned that Pakistan was still struggling to recover from the post-2018 economic shock, with debt servicing burdens and recurring external vulnerabilities limiting the country’s ability to invest in transformative projects. Given the limited fiscal space, the APCC decided that more than 98pc of available resources would be directed towards ongoing projects, with priority accorded to high-impact and near-completion schemes, particularly in water, energy, transport and other core infrastructure sectors. Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2026
Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addresses an election rally in Shigar, Gilgit-Baltistan, June 1, 2026. — Screengrab via YouTube/Geo NewsPPP committed to securing rights of GB people: Bilawal.Criticises Islamabad-centric approach to governance.Bilawal alleges...
Country: Pakistan Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 16-08-2025 What happened, where and when? Heavy monsoon rains were triggered in June 2025 with severe flash flooding across Pakistan, initially affecting Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The situation escalated rapidly in August as intense cloudbursts, flash floods, riverine overflows, landslides, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) struck northern Pakistan.1 The most severe impacts were recorded on 14–15 August 2025, when extreme cloudbursts—reaching up to 150 mm per hour in Buner— caused catastrophic flooding and landslides. KP emerged as the epicenter, with districts such as Buner, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Swabi, Bajaur, and Battagram experiencing major loss of life and infrastructure collapse.2 Entire villages including Golkada (Swat), Shahi Dand and Kuz Palaw (Shangla), and areas in Bajaur, Swabi, and Mansehra reported destruction of homes, roads, bridges, water systems, and livelihoods. In response to the evolving humanitarian situation, an IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) operation was approved on 23 August 2025 to support immediate emergency response and relief activities, with an operational timeframe until 28 February 2026. As the scale and severity of the floods expanded across multiple provinces, including Punjab where riverine flooding along the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers caused widespread inundation of settlements and agricultural land, the response was further scaled up through an Emergency Appeal (EA) approved on 30 August 2025. The Emergency Appeal, which will conclude on 31 December 2026, encompasses the DREF operation and supports longer-term recovery and resilience interventions. As the monsoon system persisted into late August, impacts expanded into Punjab, where riverine flooding along the Sutlej, Ravi, and Chenab rivers caused widespread inundation of settlements and agricultural land.3 Floodwaters gradually receded by late 2025, however secondary impacts—including waterlogging, infrastructure damage, and disrupted essential services—continued to delay recovery in many areas.
• Prolonged agitation threatens AJK’s upcoming elections • Abolishing 12 assembly seats for Pakistan-based refugees remains key stumbling block • Govt says talks still on MUZAFFARABAD: Marathon talks between a federal ministerial team and the core leadership of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) ended without a breakthrough late on Saturday night, prompting the latter to announce that its June 9 strike would proceed as planned. The lengthy dialogue, convened to persuade the JAAC to withdraw its strike call and resolve differences over its charter of demands, stretched for more than nine hours with intermittent breaks. The outcome has heightened concerns over political stability in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where general elections are expected in the last week of July. “Today, we held talks with the representatives of the governments of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir throughout the day on all issues, including the 12 refugee seats,” JAAC core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir told reporters after the talks ended at 11:20pm. “Despite the breach of trust, we had detailed discussions, and proposals were exchanged as well,” he said, adding that government representatives had requested them to postpone the planned strike. “But we have decided to keep our strike call intact,” he said. However, he added, the JAAC remained open to future engagement. The talks assumed added significance amid growing fears that any prolonged agitation could affect preparations for the upcoming elections. Although the election schedule has yet to be announced, political observers believe sustained unrest could complicate the polling process. The federal delegation included cabinet members Rana Sanaullah, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Ahsan Iqbal of the PML-N, as well as former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and former minister Qamar Zaman Kaira representing the PPP. AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, PPP regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir and party regional secretary general Chaudhry Tariq Farooq also attended. Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam did not participate in the talks. His absence came amid repeated JAAC demands that he be excluded from the process over allegations of bias. Members of the federal team, however, said he was occupied with matters relating to the GB elections. The JAAC side comprised 16 core members, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Raja Amjad Ali Khan, Anjum Zaman Awan, Umar Nazir Kashmiri, Saad Ansari and Imtiaz Aslam. The first session began shortly before 2pm and continued until 4pm. Participants said 37 of the 38 points in the JAAC’s charter of demands were discussed. The sole unresolved issue — and the most contentious one — remained the abolition of 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for Pakistan-based refugees from India-held Kashmir. The refugee seats have emerged as the principal stumbling block in the negotiations. The PML-N’s AJK chapter opposes their abolition, partly because it expects to perform strongly in the 10 refugee constituencies located in Punjab. The PPP, which currently enjoys the support of five refugee lawmakers, is considered less invested in retaining the arrangement. After a break, the second round of talks resumed at 6:10pm and lasted till 11:20pm. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Rana Sanaullah insisted the dialogue process remained alive. “The negotiations have absolutely not failed; this process will continue,” he said. He added that discussions had taken place in a positive atmosphere and that both sides had exchanged proposals. According to him, the AJK government and the opposition PML-N have agreed to convene an all-parties conference on the situation and the JAAC’s demands. Another round of talks is expected on June 6 or 7 following the conference. He expressed confidence that the dispute would be resolved before the elections, which he said would be held in accordance with the Constitution. Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2026