A high-level federal government delegation on Saturday signed an agreement with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to end days of unrest in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying that “all issues have been resolved amicably”.
Talks between the JAAC, the AJK government and federal ministers over elite privileges and reserved seats for refugees broke down[1] last week. Since then, rival groups since staged protests, trading blame for violence[2] that marred what began as a largely peaceful movement in AJK. Fierce clashes[3] between protesters and law enforcers have left at least 10 people dead and scores critically injured in the territory.
The signing of the agreement comes after two rounds[4] of talks[5] between the high-level government delegation, formed on the directives of the premier, and the JAAC in as many days.
In a post on social media platform X during the early hours of Saturday following day-long talks, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said — who was part of the government negotiating committee — said: “Our negotiation delegation has signed on a final agreement with the AJK Joint Action Committee. The protesters are returning to their homes. All roads have reopened.”
“This is a victory of peace. Long live Azad Kashmir,” the minister added. Chaudhry also shared a copy of the pact on X, which listed 12 “decisions” taken and 13 “additional points”.
Under the agreement, it was decided that first information reports (FIRs) would be registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) on the “incidents of violence and vandalism resulting into deaths of personnel belonging to LEAs (law enforcement agencies) and protestors”, with a judicial commission appointed where required.
“Persons killed in the incidents[6] of October 1 and 2, 2025 shall be compensated with monetary benefits equivalent to LEAs,” the pact read, adding that gunshot injuries would be compensated with Rs1 million per person, while a government job would be granted to one of the family members of each dead person within 20 days.
On education, it was decided that two additional intermediate and secondary educational boards (ISEBs) shall be notified for Muzaffarabad and Poonch Divisions, with all three ISEBs of AJK linked with the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education within 30 days.
Admissions to educational institutions will be given on “open merit”, another point stated.
The agreement also announced that the AJK government will issue funds for the implementation of a health card within 15 days. MRI and CT Scan machines will be provided in each AJK district through the federal government’s funding in a phase-wise manner.
The pact detailed that the size of the AJK cabinet shall be reduced to 20 ministers/advisers, and the number of administrative secretaries shall not be more than 20 at any given time. “Mergers like the departments of Civil Defence with SDMA (State Disaster Management Authority) will be carried out for this purpose.”
The Ehtesab Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Establishment shall be merged as well, with AJK’s Ehtesab Bureau Act to be brought in accordance with Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau laws.
Rs10bn for improving AJK’s electricity system
The Centre also pledged to provide Rs10 billion for the improvement of Azad Kashmir’s electricity system, according to a release plan.
The federal government agreed to carry out a feasibility study for the construction of two tunnels at Kahori/Kamser (3.7 kilometres) and Chaplani (0.6km) of Neelum Valley Road and the “project shall be prioritised as per PC 1 dated 6 Dec 22 under Saudi Development Fund”.
“The possession of lands with extended families of Mirpur district in case of Mangla Dam Raising Project[7] shall be regularised in 30 days,” it added.
The sides also agreed on the implementation of the 2019 high court decision regarding hydal projects and a feasibility study for the provision of a greater water supply scheme in 10 districts during the current fiscal year.
A review of the transport policy in light of a high court decision will also be carried out, “with special reference to use of 1300cc cars”.
The pact also envisaged the formation of a high-powered committee comprising legal and constitutional experts to deliberate “on the issue of members of AJK Assembly other than AJK constituencies”. The body will comprise two legal experts each from the Centre, the AJK government and the JAAC.
“Till the submission of final report of the committee, the provisions/concessions/allocation of funds/status of ministries under the existing arrangements will be held in abeyance,” it added.
“The Local Government Act in its current shape shall be brought in conformity with the spirit of the original Local Govt. Act of 1990 and in accordance with the judgments on the subject by apex courts in 90 days.”
Some healthcare, water supply facilities funded from ADP
As per the “additional points” listed, funds for an operation theatre and nurseries at all tehsil headquarter hospitals, as well as for the construction of bridges at Gulpur and Rehman (Kotli) will be provided from the Annual Development Programme[8] (ADP).
The agreement also proposed a water supply scheme and transmission line for the Kashmir colony in Dadyal, funded from the ADP. It pledged the grant of proprietary rights to refugees of Dadyal’s Mendor colony.
“Taxes on transfer of property[9] shall be brought at par with Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within three months.”
The pact further stated: “Reduction of advance tax on the analogy of Gilgit Baltistan and Fata (esrtwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas).”
A timeframe for an international airport at Mirpur would be announced within the current financial year after consultation and deliberations by the appropriate authority and the federal government.
Monitoring committee to define timelines for implementing decisions
In order to oversee and implement the agreement, a Monitoring and Implementation Committee comprising representatives from the federal government, its AJK counterpart and the JAAC will be notified, the document said.
Besides Chaudhry and Kashmir Affairs Minister Amir Muqam from the federal government, the panel will also include two nominated representatives from the AJK administration and two members of the JAAC.
The committee will be responsible for dispute resolution, will formulate rules and regulations of the working methodology and define timelines for the implementation of every decision in the “light of budgetary allocation and other constraints”.
“The committee will also review existing perks and privileges / fringe benefits authorised to [the] judiciary, government officials and ministers in order to rationalise it,” the agreement read.
Chaudhry, Muqam, Interprovincial Coordination Minister Rana Sanaullah, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousaf, former adviser to prime minister on Kashmir affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira, ex-AJK president Masood Ahmed Khan and PPP leader Raja Pervez Ashraf were part of the government’s negotiating team.
From the AJK government’s side, Education Minister Diwan Ali Chugtai and Local Government Minister Faisal Rathore took part in the talks, according to a copy of the signed pact shared by Chaudhry.
Raja Amjad, Shaukat Nawaz Mir and Anjum Zaman Awan represented the JAAC.
On September 25, a deadlock emerged[10] between the AJK government and the JAAC over the abolition of elite privileges and seats reserved for the Pakistan-based refugees from India-occupied Kashmir.
Subsequently, a shutter-down strike had paralysed AJK under a communications blackout[11] since the start of this week as the JAAC continued for the acceptance of its 38-point charter of demands[12].
Conspiracies now stand buried as issues resolved amicably: PM Shehbaz
Welcoming the agreement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a statement said “all conspiracies and rumours now stand buried and issues have been resolved amicably”, state-run Radio Pakistan reports[13].
He appreciated the members of the federal government’s negotiation committee and the JAAC for signing the pact to “settle all issues”.
Terming it an achievement for Pakistan and AJK, the premier said the “restoration of peace and normalcy is a good gesture”, the report added.
PM Shehbaz asserted that the government “is ever ready to resolve issues of Kashmiri brethren as public interest and service are among our top priorities”.
He appealed to Kashmiris not to pay heed to rumours, affirming that the government had “always protected” their rights and will also ensure them in the future.
On Thursday, PM Shehbaz had expressed deep concern[14] over the unrest in AJK, directing the negotiation committee to immediately proceed to Muzaffarabad and find an immediate and lasting solution to the issues.
‘Pakistan, AJK & democracy wins’: Ahsan Iqbal
Iqbal also welcomed the development, writing on X: “Pakistan, AJK & democracy wins.”
He stressed that the people of AJK had “always stood at the frontlines of Pakistan’s national cause, and their voice carries immense weight”.
Noting that the nation “saw a difficult situation emerge due to legitimate public concerns”, the planning minister commended the “wisdom of local and national leadership and the spirit of dialogue that enabled us to resolve this stand-off peacefully, without violence, without division, and with mutual respect”.
He highlighted that the resolution of the issue showed that “when the government listens, and when the people engage constructively, we can find solutions together”.
“The Joint Action Committee raised voice of citizens, and the government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took these voices seriously. Instead of confrontation, we chose consultation. Instead of egos, we chose empathy. We commit to work together for good governance and development in AJK,” Iqbal added.
More to follow
References
- ^ broke down (www.dawn.com)
- ^ violence (www.dawn.com)
- ^ Fierce clashes (www.dawn.com)
- ^ rounds (www.dawn.com)
- ^ talks (www.dawn.com)
- ^ incidents (www.dawn.com)
- ^ Mangla Dam Raising Project (www.dawn.com)
- ^ Annual Development Programme (www.dawn.com)
- ^ transfer of property (www.dawn.com)
- ^ deadlock emerged (www.dawn.com)
- ^ communications blackout (www.dawn.com)
- ^ charter of demands (www.dawn.com)
- ^ reports (www.radio.gov.pk)
- ^ deep concern (www.dawn.com)