Deadly Kotli clash triggers Centre-AJK war of words
MIRPUR (AJK) - A verbal brawl broke out between PPP and PML-N leaders after a clash between the workers of the two parties yesterday left one dead and 10 injured in Kotli district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed was on his way to address an election rally of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) contestant Javed Ludhianvi when the scuffle took place in forward town of Nikayal, close to Line of Control.
PPP activists had organised a workers convention at a college’s ground.
The workers of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reportedly hurled rocks over them, sparking fierce clash between the two sides Saturday afternoon.
Police said the supporters of both parties chanting full-throat slogans came face to face near outside the convention venue, leading to violent clash in which both sides freely used rocks and brickbats at each other.
A duty officer at Kotli Police Control Room confirmed death of Munshi Khan, a working of PPP that rules in AJK.
The ten injured were rushed to hospitals in Nikayal and Kotli where condition of four of them was stated to be critical.
Police fired warning shots and then had to use teargas shells and batons to disperse the clashing groups.
But the atmosphere was so charged that Army troops were called in.
Kotli Deputy Commissioner Adnan Khurshid confirmed that the troops were called in to maintain peace in the area.
However, the local police in-charge of the area told this Correspondent over telephone in the evening that “the situation in Nikayal town was totally under control now”.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the killing of PPP worker, alleging PML-N of using violence as a means to political hegemony.
AJK PM Abdul Majeed said they will not let PML-N thugs do whatever they wanted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He vowed to bring perpetrators of violence to justice.
Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid regretted AJK PM’s ‘foul’ language saying it amounted to encouraging violence.
Talking to newsmen in Islamabad on Saturday evening, he called upon all political parties to evolve a code of conduct to ensure peace during AJK elections.
AJK Finance Minister Ch Latif Akber demanded a high level judicial probe into the incident, alleging that some federal ministers were backing the PML-N vandals and the attack on PPP workers was made at their behest.
Police said they have registered a murder case and made some arrests.
Sources said Farooq Sikandar, son of former AJK PM Sikandar Hyat Khan, had also been nominated in the FIR.
DC Adnan Khurshid said Chief Secretary Arbab Sikandar Sultan had set up a judicial commission to probe the incident.
Former president Zardari in a statement said, “It has become a norm for PML-N to kill opposition which shows the dictatorial mindset of its leadership”.
He said that several PML-N ministers had been delivering hate speeches against PPP for some time.
Storming of PPP convention seems to be the result of this hate mongering, he added.
The PPPP co-chairman asked for a detailed report from the AJK government and instructed it to arrest and bring the culprits to book as soon as possible.
He said that the supreme sacrifices of PPP workers will not go to waste.
He expressed his sympathy for the families of the killed PPP worker and asked PPP AJK leaders to visit the residence of the deceased to show solidarity with them.
He also instructed them to provide best medical care to the injured.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, in a statement issued in Karachi, said the PML-N has let loose its armed goons to mount murderous attacks on political gatherings of the PPP ahead of the elections in the valley.
He warned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to bridle his ministers from promoting violence and use of lethal weapons against opponents or he would be held responsible for the consequences.
Bilawal Bhutto further said that those who killed and maimed PPP workers in Nakial won’t go scot-free and all the legal means should be utilised to bring them to book.
He expressed sympathies with families of the victims and added that their sacrifices won’t go in vain.
The PML-N with its 11 members is the main opposition party in AJK legislative assembly which currently has total 48 legislators.
AJK PML-N president Raja Farooq Haider holds the office of the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, in which the Muslim Conference has five members.
Deadly Kotli clash triggers Centre-AJK war of words
