At the Char Bayar Festival, young participants had been chanting slogans for freedom for the past two days. On Saturday evening, members of the administrative committee held talks with the protesters, resulting in a mutual agreement to cease the slogans. However, on Sunday morning, when more people arrived at the festival, they too began chanting slogans. Reports indicate that these chants were directed even at the vehicle of a government minister, yet the situation remained peaceful.
Later, supporters of the government minister arrived armed with sticks and weapons. Faheem Rabbani took to the stage and chanted slogans in support of Pakistan. In response, the youth in the crowd shouted slogans for freedom and autonomy. This led the minister’s supporters to attack the youth with sticks and firearms. The festival was subsequently ruined. Following the assault on the youth, all attendees united and pelted stones at the minister's and his supporters' vehicles, breaking some windows. The minister's supporters responded with gunfire. Videos of these incidents are available. Despite a heavy police presence, no action was taken against those firing and wielding sticks.
Later, near Rahimabad, just past Baithak Bazaar, a convoy of Sardar Shabbir, the President of the Traders' Association of Poonch Division, and Sardar Aman, a leader of the JKLF, encountered the minister's convoy. Armed individuals with the minister attacked Sardar Aman and began assaulting him. Sardar Shabbir's vehicle was also damaged, and his companions were assaulted.
It is noteworthy that Sardar Shabbir was en route to the festival from Tararkhel upon the festival administration’s invitation. Sardar Aman and his companions were accompanying him. None of them were present at Char Bayar during the day's earlier events.
To file a police report, Sardar Shabbir and Sardar Aman went to Baloch police station with two lawyers, Sardar Talha Advocate and Shakeel Chaudhry Advocate. The police refused to take their complaint and instead charged them with attacking government property and arrested them. Sardar Aman was transferred to Palandri late at night, while Sardar Shabbir and the two lawyers remained at Baloch police station.
Additionally, it has been reported that an FIR was filed against PPP leader Sardar Shamsher Khan. He was heading to Char Bayar after attending a meeting in Rawalakot and tried to stop the clash upon arriving at the scene.
Two FIRs under anti-terrorism laws have been registered against the detainees. These cases were filed on behalf of the police after the government minister, Faheem Rabbani, declined to file an FIR.
Protests against these arrests have erupted in Tararkhel and Palandri, with announcements of wheel-jam and shutter-down strikes if the detainees are not released. A final decision on the strike will be announced by evening.
