MUZAFFARABAD: As official institutions are preparing to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 with customary events, the business community in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) capital is gearing up for an off-centre plan to make some ‘major woes’ known to the federal government.

Every year on February 5, a ritual joint sitting of the AJK Assembly and the AJK Council is held in Muzaffarabad and, apart from several other events, human chains are formed at five points linking AJK with Pakistan to express support and solidarity with India-held Kashmir people.

However, while these functions are scheduled to be held in routine, traders here have warned to stage a complete shutter-down strike on February 5 to press the federal government to accept its three main demands “to show real solidarity with the struggling Kashmiris”.

A forewarning for the February 5 protest was given by local traders on December 31, under the banner of Muzaffarabad Tajir Ittehad, in the wake of loadshedding in AJK in general and state capital in particular by the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).

Ever since, leaders of the previously rival bodies of traders have been visiting different areas of town, on a regular basis to ensure greater participation of their colleagues in their proposed protest.

“The government of Pakistan should resolve the issues faced by the people of Azad Kashmir before expressing solidarity with the people of (India) held Kashmir,” said Shaukat Nawaz Mir, one of the key campaigners.

“Without addressing our genuine concerns, there is no justification for observing solidarity days,” he added.

The demands include exemption to AJK from loadshedding, signing of agreements (between Wapda and AJK government) on hydropower projects being constructed in AJK and release of 15pc counterpart funding for a Chinese loan for reconstruction of AJK’s earthquake-affected urban areas.

“Even now our region is producing more than 1,200MW hydropower while our total need is not more than 350MW, but that too is not being properly transmitted to us. How long one can tolerate this unfair attitude,” Mr Mir added.

Official sources said over the last two weeks, some senior government officials were constantly trying to persuade traders to call off their strike, lest it might send a negative message on the other side of the divide.

On Saturday, an AJK minister had hinted that Wapda had not only agreed to sign agreement on Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) with AJK, but also resolve a long pending dispute over electricity tariff.

Also on Monday, deputy commissioner Muzaffarabad Masoodur Rehman held a long meeting with the traders, assuring them that the federal government had been sympathetically considering their concerns.

“You should bear in mind that it’s not just AJK facing loadshedding, but the whole country… Therefore your demand in this regard needs to be rationalised in the national interest,” he was quoted as telling the traders.

Sources further told that AJK Chief Secretary Muhammad Jalal Sikandar Sultan would also hold a session with traders on Wednesday to assuage their concerns.

Trader leader Mir made it clear that their proposed protest was not against the state of Pakistan but against the government and institutions denying them fair treatment.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2016