MUZAFFARABAD:
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has sought additional security forces from the federal government citing the prevailing law and order situation and ongoing protest activities by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (Jaac).
AJK’s Interior Ministry has sent a formal request to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry seeking immediate deployment of additional personnel to help maintain peace and security throughout the region.
According to the request, the AJK government has asked for 4,000 personnel of Federal Constabulary as well as seven wings of Pakistan Rangers to be deployed in the territory.
The Ministry of Home Affairs urged the Federal Government to make the additional forces available as soon as possible in view of the prevailing security situation.
The letter states that law and order has been adversely affected by the banned Jaac’s protest activities. It also refers to an ongoing sit-in in Rawalakot and protest activities in other districts.
According to the release, four security personnel have been martyred while 174 others have sustained injuries during the unrest.
The AJK government has also requested that the additional security personnel be equipped with weapons and anti-riot equipment to effectively deal with any law and order situation.
Describing the situation as dire, it said the immediate deployment of additional federal forces had become indispensable to maintain peace and ensure public security in the region.
