Muzaffarabad, Oct 4: After five days of unrest in Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK), the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) and a high level delegation from Islamabad reached a preliminary agreement late Friday night, bringing an end to violent protests that had left at least 10 dead and many others critically injured.
The talks, held at a hilltop hotel in Upper Chattar, Muzaffarabad, involved JKJAAC leaders Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Raja Amjad Ali Khan, and Anjum Zaman Awan, while the Islamabad team included Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. Local PoJK officials, including Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq and Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, were present but not in the negotiation room.
The unrest was triggered by the government’s failure to address a 38-point charter of demands from JKJAAC, which included the elimination of reserved legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees, slashing electricity tariffs, subsidized wheat flour, ending perks for officials, and providing free education and healthcare for PoJK residents.
Amid the standoff, PoJK observed a shutdown strike, and communications remained restricted. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed on X that the “final round of negotiations is underway” and the draft agreement had been settled.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the excessive force used during the protests, while India criticized Pakistan for its “horrific human rights violations” in the region, calling for accountability.
The agreement marks a critical step in restoring calm to PoJK after days of civilian demonstrations against economic hardship and political grievances.