AJK govt says ready to resolve issues through dialogue

ISLAMABAD: The government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is always ready to resolve all the issues through negotiations and dialogue. Addressing a news conference flanked by Finance Minister Qasim Majeed, Minister for Information Azad Jammu and Kashmir Rafique Nayyar in Islamabad Thursday, said the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee was invited for talks several times, but unfortunately, it resorted to violence. The Information Minister clarified the issue of refugees seats in the AJK Assembly is the prerogative of the legislature, requiring a constitutional amendment with two-thirds majority. Speaking on the occasion, the Finance Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Qasim Majeed said the protests by the banned Awami Action Committee have caused a massive loss of fifteen billion rupees to the state over the last fifteen days. He mentioned that the tourism sector alone suffered a financial blow of four billion rupees, emphasizing that the loss directly impacts the common man and taxpayers. The AJK Finance Minister said the people of Azad Kashmir stand firmly with Pakistan, adding that their ultimate destination remains “Takmeel-e-Pakistan”. He praised the government of Pakistan for effectively highlighting the Kashmir issue at global forums for the past seven decades. Chaudhry Qasim Majeed urged the people and the trading community of Azad Jammu and Kashmir not to fall prey to the propaganda of the banned Awami Action Committee.

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