THE recent developments in Azad Kashmir have brought into sharp focus the delicate balance between democratic rights and responsible governance.
In this charged environment, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to constitute a high-level negotiations committee reflects a mature, statesmanlike response. By involving senior leaders of both the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and the Pakistan People’s Party, the Prime Minister has not only shown political foresight but also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to inclusive and democratic conflict resolution.
A leadership rooted in action: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has demonstrated on multiple occasions that Azad Jammu & Kashmir remains central to his government’s priorities. Only recently, he announced a PKR 23 billion relief package for the people of the region, offering concrete support during economic hardship. In the current crisis, his actions have been swift and layered: taking immediate notice of the situation, ordering transparent investigations into unpleasant incidents, instructing timely relief for affected families and establishing an empowered negotiations committee.
Such steps go beyond rhetoric, illustrating both empathy and accountability in governance. Negotiations as the democratic path: A key dimension of the Prime Minister’s approach is the insistence that dialogue and political engagement remain the only viable tools for resolving disputes. By extending an invitation to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) for direct negotiations, the government has created an opportunity to resolve differences within constitutional and political frameworks. Failure by the JAAC to respond positively would inevitably raise doubts about whether its leadership genuinely seeks solutions or is pursuing an agenda outside the democratic fold.
Broad-based inclusion for credibility: The credibility of this initiative is strengthened by the stature of the individuals included in the negotiations committee. Figures such as Senator Rana Sanaullah Khan, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Sardar Yousaf, former AJK President Masood Khan and senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira bring political maturity and institutional experience. Their presence signals that the government is committed to genuine dialogue, not cosmetic engagement. In democratic politics, it is experienced statesmen who can navigate competing demands and transform crisis into consensus.
This inclusive approach also follows earlier efforts, when Federal Ministers Amir Maqam and Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry were sent to Muzaffarabad to directly engage with protestors. Many demands were accepted at that time, but shifting positions and new demands derailed progress. Even so, the government has consistently chosen the path of dialogue rather than confrontation.
Balancing rights with responsibility: Another critical feature of the government’s response has been its dual emphasis on restraint and responsibility. Citizens’ right to peaceful protest has been acknowledged as a constitutional entitlement, while law enforcement agencies have been instructed to exercise patience to avoid escalation. At the same time, protesters are expected to safeguard public and private property, ensuring that the legitimacy of democratic protest is not undermined by acts of violence or disruption.
In the end, the government has demonstrated its democratic intent and readiness for resolution. The responsibility now rests equally with the JAAC to reciprocate in good faith. The path forward is clear: only through constructive dialogue, political responsibility and mutual respect can lasting stability and progress be achieved in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
