ISLAMABAD: After several days of violent unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the federal government and protesters on Saturday signed an agreement to end the ongoing demonstrations, which have so far left at least 10 people dead and hundreds injured.
The violence erupted following a strike that began on September 29 after talks between officials and leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a representative body of protesters, broke down. The protesters had presented a 38-point charter demanding acceptance of their demands, threatening mass protests if ignored. The subsequent clashes with police resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people, including three police personnel, and left hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officers injured.
In response to the escalating unrest, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a high-powered delegation to Muzaffarabad on Wednesday to negotiate a resolution. Led by former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, the delegation held extensive discussions for two days, concluding around midnight. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed on social media that an agreement had been reached.
“Negotiating delegation has signed the final agreement with the Action Committee. The protesters are returning home. All roads have reopened. This is a victory for peace,” Chaudhry posted on X.
The signed agreement, shared by Chaudhry, detailed 25 points to end the protests. Key provisions include:
Compensation for those killed during the unrest and the registration of terrorism cases related to violence and vandalism that caused deaths of both police and protesters.
Establishment of two additional intermediate and secondary education boards for the Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions in PoJK.
Allocation of funds by the local government to implement health cards within 15 days, providing free medical treatment, with MRI and CT scan machines to be installed at each district hospital in phases by the federal government.
Provision of PKR 10 billion by the federal government for upgrading the electricity infrastructure in PoJK.
Reduction of the PoJK cabinet to 20 ministers and advisors, with no more than 20 administrative secretaries at a time, along with merging certain departments to streamline governance.
Feasibility studies for constructing two tunnels at Kahori/Kamser (3.7 km) and Chaplani (0.6 km) along the Neelum Valley road.
Formation of a high-powered committee of legal and constitutional experts to examine issues related to members of the PoJK Assembly.
Steps toward constructing an international airport in Mirpur.
Alignment of property transfer taxes with rates in Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within three months.
Establishment of a Monitoring and Implementation Committee to oversee the agreement.
Friday marked the fifth consecutive day of the shutdown, with public transport largely paralyzed and only motorcycles and a few private vehicles operating on some roads. The communications blackout imposed on Sunday remained in effect, fueling growing frustration among residents.
