AJK Protests Kill At Least Nine; Talks Invited

Violent protests across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, centered in Muzaffarabad and flashpoints such as Neelum Bridge, have left at least nine people dead — including three policemen — and more than 150 injured amid a shutter‑down strike and communications blackout. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC/JKJAAC) is pressing a 38‑point charter seeking abolition of 12 reserved refugee seats and a rollback of elite privileges, two demands the government says would require constitutional amendments. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a transparent probe, directed relief for victims, urged restraint, and dispatched a high‑level delegation including Senator Rana Sanaullah and federal ministers to negotiate and personally oversee talks. Federal and AJK leaders say roughly 90% of the committee’s demands have been accepted and have invited the action committee back to the table while warning that violence will not resolve the crisis. Authorities and protesters are trading blame for the bloodshed as officials consider additional measures to restore order and continue to stress negotiations as the only civilized path forward.