Alarmed over the volatile situation persisting in AJK sparked by violent protests, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expanded government’s negotiation team while deciding to monitor the talks process himself.

While expressing grave concern over the spiralling violence in Muzzaffarabad and other AJK cities, the PM has instructed the reconstituted and expanded committee to hold result oriented talks with Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) spearheading the protest move. The negotiations are underway as Senator Rana Sanaullah, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousaf , Former AJK President Sardar Masood Khan, The newly expanded committee includes Senator Rana Sanaullah as well as federal ministers Sardar Yusuf and Ahsan Iqbal, former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Masood Khan, and PPP’s Leader Qamar Zaman Kaira have been added to the already two- member committee comprising Federal Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Ch and Kashmir Affairs Minister Ameer Muqam.

Govt claims to have already accepted 36-demand charter of JAAC while two key demands of abolishing 12 reserved seats for migrants and slashing the perks and privileges of members becoming ministers on these seats are yet to be decided upon.