AJK IGP rejects calls for talks with ‘anti-state elements’

MUZAFFARABAD: Inspector General of Police of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Liaquat Ali Malik, has issued a stern warning to violent and anti-state elements, rejecting calls for negotiations with them.

Speaking to the media, the AJK police chief said no leniency could be shown to those who had brutally murdered police personnel, mutilated their bodies and desecrated their remains. He questioned whether anyone could even imagine sitting across the negotiating table with murderers of their own brothers and such ruthless perpetrators.

The IGP said several police officers had embraced martyrdom while maintaining law and order, while many others had sustained serious gunshot injuries. He made it clear it is not the police’s role to seek political solutions, emphasising political issues are resolved by politicians. “If anyone wishes to engage in politics, they are free to do so — no one is stopping them,” he said.

Expressing strong displeasure, Liaquat Ali Malik said, on the one hand, it was unacceptable that threats were being made to behead security personnel and their bodies were being desecrated while, on the other hand, there were calls for negotiations with those responsible.

Referring to what he described violent elements’ hooliganism and intimidation of the public, IGP said ordinary citizens were also being targeted. Citing one incident, he said an innocent man travelling to attend his mother’s funeral was allegedly abducted and had both his legs broken. “There can be no political solution for such brutality,” he said.

He declared the state would deal with those who take the law into their own hands, behead police personnel and assault innocent civilians with full force of the law. “There would be no compromise on maintaining public order,” he added.