Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan administered Kashmir) – A significant consultative session of the Joint Awami Action Committees from Mirpur Division is currently underway at a private venue in Kotli. The meeting brings together leading representatives from across the region to deliberate on strategic actions in response to growing public discontent over electricity shortages, voltage drops, and persistent infrastructure issues.
The high-level session is part of the broader Kashmir Rights Movement and aims to formulate a unified roadmap addressing long-standing grievances of the local population. Key participants include members of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) such as Imtiaz Aslam Chaudhry, Anwar Baig, Khawaja Mehran Arshad Advocate, Chairman Chaudhry Shabbir Hussain Nagyalvi, and Saad Ansari Advocate.
Representatives from the Awami Action Committee of Chakswari, including Asghar Ali Raja, Haji Muhammad Wahid Mughal, Khawaja Muhammad Shoaib Advocate, Bawa Muhammad Shehzad, Tariq Kashmiri, and Chaudhry Sufyan Jutt, are also present, reflecting widespread regional engagement.
The agenda includes key issues such as:
- Forced and prolonged electricity load shedding
- Critically low voltage levels impacting daily life and business
- Delays in fulfilling promises made by the local government
- Broader concerns over governance, resource distribution, and basic civic rights
This strategic meeting comes at a time when public frustration is rising across Azad Jammu and Kashmir due to what many see as systematic neglect of their basic rights and infrastructure needs. Organizers emphasized the importance of a peaceful, united response and the role of civil society in advocating for ownership rights and self-governance.
Background
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committees (JKJAAC) have emerged as influential civil forums representing diverse local voices across Mirpur Division including Kotli, Dadyal, and Chakswari. While not aligned with any political party, the committees are playing a growing role in grassroots mobilization around socio-economic and civic issues.
This meeting is seen as a critical step toward coordinated, region-wide advocacy efforts to pressure authorities into fulfilling public demands and improving living standards.