38-point charter signed (Image/X@DrTariqFazal)
After days of violence and unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the protestors and Pakistan government on Saturday reached an agreement to end demonstrations through a 38-point charter proposed by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC).The protests, which began on September 29 following the breakdown of talks between officials and the committee, left at least 10 people dead, including three police personnel and hundreds injured.The charter outlined the protesters’ demands, warning that failure to meet them would lead to public demonstrations, which eventually escalated into violent clashes.
The unrest halted public transport, disrupted daily life and continued under a communications blackout, increasing tensions across the region.As the unrest widened, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif dispatched a high-powered delegation to Muzaffarabad on Wednesday to negotiate a settlement.The team, led by former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, held extensive discussions for two consecutive days, concluding around midnight.Pakistan’s minister for parliamentary affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on social media platform X that an agreement had been reached between the federal government and the protesters. “Negotiating delegation has signed the final agreement with the Action Committee…. The protesters are returning to their homes. All roads have been reopened. This is a victory for peace,” he said in a post on X.The signed agreement includes 25 points, covering compensation for those killed in the violence, registering terrorism cases against incidents resulting in fatalities and several developmental measures for PoK.Key provisions include the establishment of two additional intermediate and secondary education boards for Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions, the provision of MRI and CT scan machines across districts and the issuance of health cards for free patient treatment within 15 days.The federal government has also pledged PKR 10 billion to improve the electricity system in PoK. Administrative reforms were agreed upon, including reducing the PoK cabinet to 20 ministers and advisors and limiting the number of administrative secretaries to 20. Certain departments will be merged to streamline governance.Infrastructure projects were also included in the agreement, with a feasibility study to be conducted for two tunnels in the Neelum Valley and plans for constructing an international airport at Mirpur.Tax reforms, including bringing property transfer taxes in line with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within three months, were also agreed.A high-powered monitoring and implementation committee will oversee the enforcement of the agreement to ensure compliance by both sides.Friday marked the fifth consecutive day of the shutdown, with public transport remaining suspended. Only motorcycles and a limited number of private vehicles were seen on the roads.
Read the full charter:
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