MUZAFFARABAD: A complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to record a protest against the presidential ordinance banning protest rallies and public meetings.
The strike call was given by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee against the presidential ordinance imposing a seven-year prison sentence for holding protests, rallies and demonstrations without following specific conditions in the region.
The All Parties Coordination Committee is also supporting this strike.
The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee has announced to continue the strike indefinitely.
The Kashmir government had imposed a seven-year prison sentence for holding protests, rallies and demonstrations through a presidential ordinance a month ago.
Except for a few private schools, all educational institutions are closed in Kashmir, while milk and yogurt, vegetable and fruit shops and even medical stores, including hotels, are closed on the call for a voluntary shutter down.
Public transport going to different provinces of Pakistan and inter-district routes is also completely jammed.
In AJK, protests and demonstrations have been held against the government for the past one and a half years through the platform of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee.
During this time, shutter-down and wheel-jam strikes were also held several times. In May this year, the Awami Action Committee held a massive protest demanding a reduction in flour and electricity prices.
The Public Action Committee is continuing its protests for the approval of its other demands.
On the other hand, the government also passed a presidential ordinance on October 30, 2024, after which protests broke out in all districts of the AJK.
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Apart from the Awami Action Committee, the All Parties Coordination Committee of nationalist political parties also declared this ordinance a black law and started protests in various cities against it. During this, several political activists were also arrested.
AJK Supreme Court suspends Presidential Ordinance
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Jammu and Kashmir suspended the Presidential Ordinance ‘Peaceful Assembly Order and Public Order 2024’.
Earlier, the Kashmir High Court had declared the ordinance legal. Later interim relief and (a petition for leave to appeal) were filed against this ordinance in the Supreme Court.
The AJK top court suspended the ordinance while accepting the application for interim relief, while it has been converted into a regular appeal
After the suspension of the ordinance, the Joint Aami Action Committee demanded the government to immediately revoke the ordinance and the protesters arrested under this law should be released by Tuesday evening.
When these demands were not met by the government, the Joint Awami Action Committee decided to go on an indefinite shutter-down and wheel-jam strike from December 5.
On the other hand, Information Minister Pir Mazhar Saeed has said that ‘it is the right of traders to keep the shutters closed and open.
What is in the Presidential Ordinance?
The Presidential Ordinance was issued on October 29 to regulate public gatherings in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Holding public gatherings, meetings, processions, etc. subject to the prior permission of the District Magistrate.
According to the Ordinance, it will be mandatory to apply to the District Magistrate seven days in advance to protest on any urgent demand and the demands will also have to be submitted in writing to the District Magistrate before seeking permission of protest and public meeting.
Anyone violating this law can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to seven years.
