A major development emerged this week as • Authorities tighten crackdown on group ’ s activists as businesses are seized and raids conducted • Internet outage enters eighth day, affecting students and freelancers • Ex-president urges JAAC to end agitation unconditionally MUZAFFARABAD: Two sit-ins by activists and supporters of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee ( JAAC) sustained on the fringes of Rawalakot for the fourth consecutive day amid a partial shutter-down strike across Azad Jammu and Kashmir ( AJK) on Saturday. Though no untoward incident had been stated until evening, disruption of mobile phone services in Rawalakot subsequent to 8:30pm hindered the only means of ascertaining information relating to the latest landscape in the ‘ embattled ’ town.

Background

To put this in perspective, analysts point to a number of relevant factors.

According to representative sources and witnesses, participants in the gathering at Eidgah Ground had also dispersed during a downpour in the early hours of Saturday to relieve themselves and have breakfast in adjacent areas, either in their own homes or those of their local hosts, as they had done a day earlier.

On Saturday, most towns in Muzaffar­abad Division and other parts of AJK observed a shutdown amid the continued suspension of public transport for the fifth consecutive day.

Against this backdrop, there were as well re­­ports of partial strikes in Mirpur Division.

Analysis

The implications of this development are already being assessed by those closest to the issue.

Reports also declared the administration had tightened the noose around key JAAC activists and supporters by seizing the businesses of many of them across the state.

Against this backdrop, in Muzaffarabad, police furthermore raided and allegedly ransacked a men ’ s hostel in an attempt to arrest its owner, Sohaib Javed, a key JAAC member, but could not find him.

It has also emerged that in addition on Saturday, the suspension of internet services entered its eighth day, to the exasperation of citizens, particularly students and freelancers, who urged the authorities to show mercy and restore the services in the interest of their education and livelihoods.

National Impact

The downstream effects of this situation are being assessed by officials and experts alike.

“ Yesterday, I had to travel to Garhi Habibullah in neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to submit some documents online, and there I saw dozens of other students and citizens who had arrived from Muzaffarabad to use the internet for various urgent purposes, ” stated Ryan Khan, a student from the region ’ s capital.

Significantly, “ Not everyone can afford to travel outside their towns, so I urge the authorities not to ruin our future and to restore internet services without further ado. ” ‘ Withdraw unconditionally ’ Meanwhile, former AJK president and prime minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan on Saturday reiterated his appeal to JAAC leaders to show a “ good gesture ” and end their agitation unconditionally.

Further developments have shed additional light on the matter. talking to Dawn, he maintained that politics demanded “ respect for opponents, flexibility and harmony, without any room for obduracy in a battle royale ”.

Against this backdrop, mr Khan said he had invited several senior leaders from mainstream political parties to his residence the other day to find an amicable solution to the deadlock, where he stressed the need to rise above political affiliations in order to strengthen the state and its relations with Pakistan.

In a related development, mr Khan said senior PPP AJK leaders would meet on the issue in Islamabad on Sunday ( today), in the wake of which they would address a press conference.

What Happens Next

A clearer picture is expected to emerge as more information comes to light in the days ahead. Until then, this development remains a pivotal point in an ongoing story with significant national implications.