Muzaffarabad: In an unprecedented move, the Joint Awami Action Committee has announced a statewide lockdown across Azad Kashmir on December 5, 2024. The call for protest, aimed at highlighting basic rights and socio-economic issues, has drawn widespread support from various segments of society, with key activities planned in cities and towns across the region.

The committee has declared the lockdown as indefinite until their demands are addressed. The protests are expected to paralyze regular activity, with shops, markets, and transportation grinding to a halt.

Complete Shutdown in Key Areas

The lockdown in the capital, Muzaffarabad, will serve as a central demonstration point. Starting at midnight, roads will be completely closed to traffic, except for ambulances. All businesses, except hotels and medical stores, will remain shuttered as a sign of solidarity with the cause.

Read Also: Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committees: The Ongoing Movement for Rights and Reforms

Black flags will be hoisted throughout cities, and demonstrators have been urged to participate in rallies for a better future. A local leader, Muhammad Azhar Sultan, a member of the Joint Awami Action Committee, emphasized the importance of public participation, urging transporters and traders to fully back the protest.

A Unified Call for Rights

The committee’s demands center on securing the fundamental rights of the people of Azad Kashmir, with an emphasis on governance reforms, economic stability, and social welfare.

“We have learned from history that even if people are asleep, we must call them to action. This is a moment for all of us to rise for our rights,” Muhammad Azhar Sultan said in a statement, calling on all citizens to join the movement.

Impact of the Protest

The planned demonstrations are expected to significantly disrupt daily life, particularly in the regional capital, Muzaffarabad, and its surrounding areas. Protesters are likely to block key highways, cutting off transportation links within the region.

The Joint Awami Action Committee has reiterated that the protest is peaceful and that emergency services such as ambulances will not be hindered.

National Significance

This statewide lockdown is being viewed as a litmus test for the leadership in Azad Kashmir. With years of simmering grievances over basic rights, governance, and resource allocation, this movement represents a culmination of public frustration.

Call to Action

The committee has called on citizens to demonstrate unity and resilience, urging every individual to play a role in shaping the future of Azad Kashmir. The protest, according to organizers, is not just a demand for immediate relief but a fight for the generations to come.

As Azad Kashmir braces for a historic day of demonstrations, all eyes are on Muzaffarabad, the epicenter of this movement. The success of this protest could shape the region’s political and social narrative for years to come.

Mirpur (The Azadi Times): A landmark meeting of the Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Supreme Court Bar Association was held on November 30, 2024, at the Supreme Court Bar Room in Mirpur. The meeting, attended by representatives of the AJK High Court Bar Association, and district and tehsil bar associations across the region, unanimously rejected the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance 2024 (Ordinance IX), branding it as a “black law” that undermines fundamental rights and threatens the Kashmir freedom movement.

Key Highlights of the Meeting

The lawyers voiced grave concerns over the ordinance’s potential impact on the Kashmir freedom movement. The resolution declared that such laws harm AJK’s role as the “base camp” for the movement, with India already leveraging this ordinance in international forums to paint Pakistan in a negative light. The ordinance, they warned, risks causing irreparable damage to the freedom struggle.

Violation of International Human Rights

The ordinance was strongly condemned as a direct violation of the United Nations Charter on Human Rights. The resolution highlighted that introducing such a draconian law in a peaceful region like AJK is unprecedented and unacceptable.

Demands and Decisions

1. Immediate Repeal of the Ordinance
   The legal fraternity demanded the immediate withdrawal of Ordinance IX, urging the government to prevent unrest and uphold AJK’s reputation as a democratic region that values fundamental rights.
2. Condemnation of Cases Against Protestors
   The lawyers condemned the registration of cases against peaceful protestors, including political activists, students, and civil society members. They specifically highlighted the District Bars of Mirpur, Rawalakot, Bagh, Haveli, and Nikyal, demanding the immediate withdrawal of all such cases.
3. Awareness Campaigns
   The resolution announced plans to educate the public about the oppressive nature of the ordinance through seminars, press briefings, and other awareness activities across bar associations.
4. Support for the December 5 Strike
   The lawyers pledged full support for the peaceful strike called by the Joint Action Committee on December 5, 2024, to protest against the ordinance.
5. Escalation of Protests
   The resolution warned that if the ordinance is not repealed by December 3, 2024, the legal fraternity would take the matter to international human rights forums and legal institutions in Pakistan and abroad.
6. Release of Detainees
   The lawyers demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all political activists arrested for protesting against the ordinance, condemning their detention as a violation of their democratic rights.

The AJK Supreme Court Bar Association has taken a firm stand against what it calls a “draconian law” that threatens both fundamental rights and the broader freedom movement. By announcing nationwide awareness campaigns and international outreach, the legal fraternity has sent a clear message of resistance against any legislation that undermines the democratic values of Azad Jammu & Kashmir.

Issued by:
Media Wing, Supreme Court Bar Association of AJK