MUZAFFARABAD: The government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has announced to withdraw a controversial ordinance after public protests and a long march.
The government had introduced the ordinance banning all public protests and rallies without permission.
Though the Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir had suspended the ordinance, protests broke out under the Awami Action Committee.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir President Sultan Mehmood Chodhry on Saturday night asked the government to withdraw the ordinance.
The action committee had announced a long march after its negotiations with the government ended in a deadlock on Saturday. Protests by the action committee continued in different towns of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
A leader of the action committee had also said that a sit-in would also be held outside the legislative assembly of Azad Kashmir in Muzaffarabad if there was no positive outcome of another talks to be held on Sunday.
However, AJK minister for information Pir Mazhar Syed said that negotiations had not failed, rather a committee has been formed which comprises representatives from all stakeholders. He said the recommendations of the action committee would be accommodated in the presidential ordinance.
The ordinance promulgated by the Azad Kashmir president links holding of rallies with permission from deputy commissioner by the organizers at least one week in advance. Moreover, the ordinance had stated that any unregistered political party or any other organization had no right to hold any public gathering.
