ISLAMABAD:
After days of protests and tension in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a major breakthrough was achieved on Saturday as the federal government, the AJK administration and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) reached an agreement in what leaders hailed as a “historic settlement”.
The negotiations were convened on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and chaired by former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
The federal side was represented by Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Engineer Amir Muqam and Qamar Zaman Kaira. From AJK, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore and Dewan Ali Chughtai participated, while the JAAC was represented by Raja Amjad, Shaukat Nawaz Mir and Anjum Zaman.
A high-level monitoring and implementation committee has been established under the leadership of Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, with representation from the AJK government and the JAAC, to oversee enforcement of the accord and address potential disputes.
The agreement covers 12 core and 13 additional points. Among the key provisions, families of those killed in the violence of October 12 will be compensated on par with security personnel and given government jobs, while the injured will receive Rs1 million each.
A judicial commission will be constituted to investigate the incidents of violence.
Two new educational boards will be set up in Muzaffarabad and Poonch, linked to the Federal Board in Islamabad. Victims of the Mangla Dam expansion project will be handed possession of land within 30 days. Amendments to the 1990 Local Government Act will be enacted within 90 days.
Within 15 days, the AJK government will release funds for health cards, and MRI and CT scan machines will be provided in every district. The Government of Pakistan will provide Rs10 billion to upgrade AJK’s electricity system.
The AJK cabinet will be capped at 20 ministers and advisers, while the number of secretaries will not exceed 20. The accountability bureau and anti-corruption department will be merged and aligned with NAB laws. Feasibility studies will be conducted for two tunnels on the Kahori/Kamser and Chaplani Neelum roads.
A high-level committee will examine the issue of refugee assembly members, with their perks and funds suspended until the final report. All Kashmiris arrested during the October 23 protests will be released.
Additional clauses include judicial inquiries into incidents in Banjosa, Muzaffarabad, Palandri, Dhirkot, Mirpur and Rawalakot, setting a timeframe for the Mirpur International Airport project, harmonising property transfer taxes with Punjab and K-P, finalising feasibility studies for major water supply schemes, and establishing operating theatres and nurseries at Tehsil Headquarters hospitals alongside new bridge projects.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif welcomed the success of the negotiation process in Azad Kashmir.
Paying tribute to the members of the negotiation committee, the prime minister lauded their individual and collective efforts, terming the development a “great achievement for Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir”.
He said that the restoration of peace and normalisation of the situation was a positive development. “Conspiracies and rumors have finally come to an end, and all matters have been resolved amicably, Alhamdulillah.”
The prime minister also thanked the members of the Joint Action Committee for their role in the successful talks and congratulated them on the restoration of peace.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, he said, “The government is always ready to resolve the issues of our Kashmiri brothers. Public interest and peace are our priority and we will continue to serve Azad Jammu and Kashmir.”
The prime minister urged the people of AJK to avoid paying heed to rumors and assured them that their rights would always be protected. “We have always been the protectors of the rights of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters and will continue to safeguard their rights in the future as well.”
The prime minister emphasisded that his government had always given special attention to the issues of AJK and resolved them on a priority basis.
