There is a situation in AJK. An apolitical protest is getting out of control and spilling over into a march on the federal capital. Overblown by its organisers, the Joint Awami Action Committee in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and responded to very late by the authorities in Islamabad, the protest seems to be going over the brink. Reports say at least nine civilians were killed in clashes with security forces that also left three cops dead.

The 38-point charter of demands presented to the AJK government is not something new, as it has been in the wings for months. This uprising is an outcome of a series of indecisive talks between the Action Committee and those at the helm of affairs. The demands pertain to civic rights of the dwellers, with protesters calling for the removal of perks for rulin

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