Nawaz Urges AJK Protesters to End Sit-Ins and Resume Dialogue

LAHORE: PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has appealed to protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to end demonstrations and sit-ins and move toward serious talks with the government, as the region continues to face political tension ahead of next month’s elections.

The former prime minister made the appeal during a meeting in Lahore on Wednesday with senior leaders from the PML-N’s AJK chapter. The discussion focused on the political and administrative situation in the region, where protests, shutdowns and public anger have created pressure on both the AJK government and federal political leadership.

Nawaz said the people of AJK enjoy democratic rights and civil freedoms under the region’s constitutional framework, but stressed that public demands should be pursued through dialogue and lawful political channels. He urged demonstrators to avoid prolonging unrest and instead engage in a constructive process that could help restore calm.

According to a statement issued by PML-N central spokesperson and Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, the party’s AJK leadership had requested Nawaz to take notice of the worsening situation and play a role in defusing tensions. Nawaz expressed hope that the people of AJK, the local government, Islamabad and political parties would work together to stabilise the situation and allow the electoral process to move forward.

The unrest in AJK has been driven by multiple issues, including disputes over reserved refugee seats in the Legislative Assembly, inflation, electricity tariffs and rising living costs. Recent clashes during protests resulted in casualties among both civilians and security personnel, deepening public concern and raising fears that political confrontation could disrupt normal life and election campaigning.

Nawaz said all available resources should be used for the welfare of the people of AJK and added that movements for public rights must remain within constitutional limits. He also reiterated his party’s position on the Kashmir issue, saying the people of the region should receive their right to self-determination in line with United Nations resolutions.

The PML-N chief also voiced grief over the loss of lives during recent incidents, saying such conditions should not have developed. He appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to remain peaceful and maintain their emotional and ideological bond with Pakistan, describing the Kashmiri struggle as one that Pakistan has consistently supported.

His intervention comes at a sensitive time because AJK elections are scheduled for the end of July. Continued protests could damage political campaigning, affect voter participation and make governance more difficult in a region where public trust has already been tested by economic pressure and constitutional disputes.

For Pakistan, the situation in AJK carries national political and diplomatic significance. Any prolonged instability in the region can affect domestic politics, Pakistan’s Kashmir narrative and the wider perception of governance at a time when the country is also dealing with economic reform, regional diplomacy and security challenges.

The next step will depend on whether protest leaders, the AJK government and national political parties can open credible negotiations. If dialogue begins quickly and addresses core grievances, the region may move toward normalcy before the elections; if not, unrest could continue to overshadow the democratic process.