Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Syed Iftikhar Gillani has urged the people of Rawalakot to maintain peace, assuring them that the government is committed to resolving the issues of the area.

Talking to media representatives during his visit to Rawalakot, he said the purpose of the visit was to assess ground realities and find practical solutions to the problems faced by the local population.

The Prime Minister said the people of Rawalakot had rendered immense sacrifices in the history of the Kashmir freedom movement.

He said people had consistently raised demands for development and improvement of the area in the last four elections rather than resorting to divisive rhetoric.

Expressing concern over disruptions to public movement, Syed Iftikhar Gillani said the situation has severely affected the education system and caused serious difficulties for patients seeking medical treatment.

He questioned why the future of the younger generation should be put at risk because of a few individuals. He said no action causing damage to the state can serve the cause of public welfare.

The AJK Prime Minister said those who resorted to three hours of firing could not claim to be holding peaceful protests.

He maintained that any movement obstructing children's access to schools and patients' access to hospitals could not be described as peaceful.

Syed Iftikhar Gillani said no governance issue in Azad Kashmir is so serious as to justify disturbing law and order.