MIRPUR (AJK)-Mirpur district of Azad Jammu & Kashmir remained disconnected with rest of the country following the blockade of the main artery of Dina-Mirpur Highway by hundreds of protesters staging a sit-in at Mangla Bridge, for the second consecutive day against the police action against the participants of 20-day old Faizabad sit-in.
The round-the-clock busiest Dina-Mirpur Highway links adjoining Punjab province with this part of the liberated territory of the Himalayan State of Jammu & Kashmir. Life was almost totally paralyzed following blockage of the road-link through this only main route to this main city of AJK since the protest by a large number of the people including the activists of Tehreek Labaik Ya Rasoolullah, Sunni Tehreek and other religious groups, staged protests in various parts of AJK including Mirpur and Kotli districts.
Hours-long parleys between local district administration led by Deputy Commissioner Ansar Yaqoob and Additional SP Mirpur Mirza Zahid, besides other officials of the administration and the protesters at Mangla Bridge remained inconclusive after the protesters refused to be dispersed and call off the protest. Reiterating complete solidarity with the participants of Faizabad sit-in, the protesters pledged to continue 'dharna' till the continuation of the Faizabad protest and arrival of the final decision about their leadership camping at Faizabad interchange in Rawalpindi.
Police contingents remained alert to maintain peace and order during whole of the exercise and the overall situation remained peaceful on Sunday.
A large number of people including the activists of Sunni ST, TLYR and other religious groups gathered at the central locations of AJK cities including Kotli, Bhimbher, Poonch, and other places staged protests by blocking various major roads and streets to register their indignation against the operation against the occupants of Rawalpindi Islamabad-Highways at Faizabad.
They raised slogans over the police action against participants of the Faizabad sit-in describing it "uncalled". They declared the 20-day old 'dharna' as justified in support of the demands including the resignation of Law Minister Zahid Hamid and unveiling the names of those behind the amendment - which was later withdrawn by the government.