By calling those who are protesting in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir “patriots,” the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) party in Pakistan has changed its stance and praised them.
In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a vigorous protest is being led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Following this, the Pakistan Muslim League (N), which rules Pakistan, had the government ban that organization. The party had also been alleging that members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban terrorist organization took part in the protest.
In this context, when Rana Sanaullah, adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, spoke at a public meeting, he praised 99 percent of the people living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as “patriots.” Regarding this, he further said: 99 percent of those associated with the JAAC organization are patriotic brothers. Here (in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), once the Pakistan Muslim League (N) wins the election and forms the government with a two-thirds majority, it will hold talks with representatives of the JAAC organization. He said priority will be given to finding a solution to their demands.
Elections to the legislative assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are being held in three phases. The first two phases of the election have already been completed. Only one more phase remains to be conducted. In this situation, protests were held in various places under the leadership of the JAAC group during the first two phases as well. The JAAC organization has been alleging that up to 400 people were killed in the action taken by Pakistani security forces to control the protests.
The Pakistani government has denied this allegation. The Pakistani government has said that the JAAC organization is exaggerating the number of deaths.
India had already expressed its condemnation of the attack carried out by Pakistani security forces on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Similarly, the U.N. had also stated that the security situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was a matter of concern.