MUZAFFARABAD: The federal government has successfully reached an agreement with the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), averting the large-scale protest that had been announced for September 29.
On the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs Amir Maqam and Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry traveled to Muzaffarabad to hold negotiations with JAC leaders.
After hours of talks, the ministers confirmed that the government had accepted all demands presented within the framework of the Constitution.
Announcing the breakthrough, Amir Maqam stated that electricity in AJK will now be provided at a subsidized rate of Rs. 3 per unit, while flour will also be supplied at significantly reduced prices in order to provide immediate relief to citizens facing rising living costs.
However, he made it clear that the JAC’s demand to abolish refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly was not acceptable, terming it unconstitutional and against national interest. “Eliminating the refugee seats would amount to betraying the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir, whose representation is enshrined in the system,” the minister stressed.
Explaining the government’s position, Maqam said the JAC leadership had been told that such matters must be resolved through democratic channels: “If you believe in the mandate of the people, then contest elections, enter the assembly, and pursue constitutional amendments through proper legislative procedures.”
The agreement marks a major political development in Azad Kashmir, where the Joint Action Committee had been mobilizing for weeks over high electricity tariffs, food inflation, and governance-related grievances.
Analysts say the government’s decision to grant significant concessions while drawing a firm line on constitutional issues reflects an attempt to both diffuse public anger and uphold the constitutional framework of AJK’s governance.
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