A former core member of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has publicly urged the group's leadership to withdraw its long march and sit-in call, citing severe suffering in Poonch where several lives have been lost during the month-long agitation. Main Developments Raja Amjad Ali Khan, a former vice-chairman of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bar Council and once a principal legal strategist for the alliance, appealed via a video statement on his Facebook page to JAAC leaders Umar Nazir Kashmiri and Khawaja Mehran Arshad. He described the ongoing protest as causing immense hardship for residents and called for an immediate end to the demonstrations. Kashmiri had announced on Thursday that the alliance would stage a long march on Muzaffarabad on July 15 if its charter of demands was not implemented by July 14. Both Kashmiri and Arshad have been camping at the Eidgah ground on the outskirts of Rawalakot, delivering fiery speeches and policy statements. Read also: Libya arrests ringleader of notorious Gujrat human trafficking gang Background Khan's appeal comes nearly three weeks after he publicly severed ties with the proscribed JAAC, claiming it had deviated from its original objectives. In a June 20 video message, he alleged the movement had been diverted from its peaceful course to damage Pakistan-Kashmir relations, accusing some of sending young activists to prison while striking behind-the-scenes deals. He also declared he no longer had any association with the proscribed JAAC or any nationalist or separatist organization. The alliance was formally banned prior to his departure. Why It Matters The prolonged sit-in has disrupted normal life in Poonch, with precious lives lost and residents facing severe hardship. Khan urged locals not to become part of what he called disruptive forces and appealed to the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK and elsewhere to rely on verified information and play a constructive role in restoring peace. What's Next It remains unclear whether Kashmiri and Arshad will heed Khan's withdrawal request ahead of the July 14 deadline. The long march on Muzaffarabad scheduled for July 15 hangs in the balance, pending any shift in the alliance's stance or possible government intervention.