MUZAFFARABAD: A confrontation between the government and opposition parties in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) apparently came to an end on Wednesday after Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas offered apologies to two key opposition leaders on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.

The faceoff, triggered by PM Ilyas’s comment about Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Latif Akbar about a week ago, exacerbated on Monday after Law Minister Sardar Faheem Akhtar Rabbani tossed his mobile phone at former premier Raja Farooq Haider during the assembly session in the wake of an alleged exchange of barbs.

The untoward incident not only unleashed scuffles and torrents of abuse between the two sides, forcing the chair to adjourn the session for two days, but also triggered violent street protests by supporters of Mr Haider from his PML-N party.

Farooq Haider welcomes prime minister’s gesture

Even though PM Ilyas and Mr Rabbani had immediately expressed regrets over the incident, the street protests by PML-N activists continued for three days, though with a reduced strength and intensity.

On Wednesday, they laid siege to the main entrance of the Civil Secretariat, forcing lawmakers to use an alternative route to reach the assembly building.

As part of precautionary measures, Speaker Chaudhry Anwarul Haq banned the entry of everyone in the visitors’ galleries, a decision he withdrew after a sit-in staged by journalists in front of the assembly building.

As the house resumed proceedings after Asr prayers, PM Ilyas spoke highly of both Mr Haider and Mr Akbar, terming them his elder brothers.

“I repent and offer apologies to not only both of them but also to all members of the house, whether on opposition or treasury benches, if any of my comments have hurt their sentiments,” he said.

During the break, the prime minister was said to have entered into a brief altercation with his predecessor Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi as well. So he also offered apologies to him.

“Through our conduct, we have to prove ourselves a model for future generations,” Mr Ilyas observed.

Without elaborating, he alleged that the conduct of some people in the house, particularly in his cabinet, was “suspicious” and ought to be reviewed.

After his speech, Mr Haider took the floor and said since the Leader of the House had offered apologies and “termed us his elder brothers it is binding on us to honour his expectation”. As part of an understanding, three privilege motions by the opposition lawmakers were then referred to the house committee.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2022