Student Organizations Unite in Azad Kashmir to Demand Reforms

Muzaffarabad (Azasi Times): The Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) hosted a significant conference today, July 13, in Muzaffarabad, bringing together all major student organizations from Azad Kashmir.

The four-hour-long meeting focused on the ban on student unions and various student-related issues. Leaders from JKPSF, JKSLF, JKNSF Wing, JKNSF Marxist, PYA, JKPSO, ISF, MSFN, MSF, JKMI, IJT, ATI, UKNSO, and NCN participated in the conference.

A key outcome of the conference was the establishment of the Jammu Kashmir Students Action Committee, with each organization nominating two members to the committee.

The nominated members are Israr Yousaf, Fauzia Khan, Ahmad Raza Mustafai, Sohaib Javed, Raja Danish, Samad Shakeel, Azhar Rasheed, Raja Dilawar, Ali Shamraiz, Arbaaz Khan, Abdul Rehman Inqilabi, Wasi Tair, Mujtaba Banday, Sohaib Hanif, Khalil Babar, Hamid Maqbool, Basit Irshad Baghi, Hamza Mir, Ahmed Maqbool, Muhammad Afsar Khan Mughal, Aqib Khan, Usama Mumtaz, Fayaz Kashmiri, Raja Ahsan Khurshid, Waqas Ahmed, Syed Ahmed Ali, and Hamza Saleem Kayani.

Following extensive discussions, the Jammu Kashmir Students Action Committee formulated an 11-point Charter of Demands, which they vowed to pursue until fully realized:

1. Immediate announcement of a schedule for student union elections by the Azad Kashmir government.
2. Inclusion of Jammu Kashmir studies in the curriculum of all educational institutions in Azad Kashmir.
3. Provision of scholarships to Kashmiri students studying in Pakistan and an increase in the quota percentage.
4. Allocation of 10% of Azad Kashmir’s total budget for education.
5. Immediate lifting of restrictions on student freedom of expression under the guise of university discipline committees.
6. Provision of hostels in universities according to student numbers.
7. Formation of committees including student representatives to address the rising harassment rates in universities.
8. Updating of the curriculum to meet modern requirements.
9. Immediate abolition of the semester system in Azad Kashmir’s education system.
10. Registration of all unemployed youth and provision of unemployment allowances.
11. Immediate dissolution of bogus inquiry committees in universities.

The Jammu Kashmir Students Action Committee has issued a stern warning to the government to accept and implement the Charter of Demands without delay. The committee declared that if these demands are not met, the student community will assert their presence with full force.