Joint Awami Action Committee Announces Long March Towards Muzaffarabad, Demands Electoral Reforms in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

Muzaffarabad: The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKAAC) has announced a major political mobilization across Pakistan-administered Kashmir, setting a deadline of 31 May 2026 for authorities to implement electoral and constitutional reforms ahead of upcoming elections. The decision was made during a consultative meeting held on 30–31 March in Dadyal, Mirpur, where representatives from multiple divisions reviewed political developments and the status of previously agreed reforms.

The committee warned that failure to implement reforms could result in a long march towards Muzaffarabad on 9 June 2026, accompanied by an indefinite region-wide shutdown.

According to the official statement, the core committee of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee emphasized the need for transparent, fair, and impartial elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The group raised concerns about the continued existence of 12 reserved seats allocated to refugees residing in Pakistan, describing the arrangement as controversial and inconsistent with democratic representation.

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Committee representatives argued that holding elections without resolving the disputed seats issue and implementing broader constitutional reforms would undermine public trust in the electoral process. The organization stated that while it supports democratic participation, electoral mechanisms must reflect the will of the people without structural distortions.

The statement also referenced the 4 October 2025 agreement, asserting that key provisions remain unimplemented. Among the demands is the establishment of an independent election commission, population-based constituency delimitation, and reforms aimed at strengthening institutional accountability.

The Joint Awami Action Committee confirmed that negotiations with the Monitoring and Implementation Committee will continue, despite what it described as serious reservations regarding delays in implementing agreed reforms. The alliance has given authorities until 31 May 2026 to fulfill commitments outlined in the Charter of Demand, including governance reforms and reduction of what it termed “non-essential privileges” granted to political elites.

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If progress is not achieved within the specified timeline, the group announced it would no longer consider itself bound by previous negotiation frameworks.

Long March Planned from Bhimber-Mirpur to Muzaffarabad

The planned long march is expected to begin on 9 June 2026 from Bhimber-Mirpur, culminating outside the Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad, where participants intend to stage a sit-in for an indefinite period. Organizers have called on supporters across Pakistan-administered Kashmir to prepare for extended civic mobilization, including arrangements for food and essential supplies.

The committee has also announced the launch of a public outreach campaign aimed at mobilizing communities through local ward committees and public conferences focused on political representation and governance rights.

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Observers note that public mobilization efforts have increasingly focused on demands related to local autonomy, political accountability, and participatory governance, issues that have shaped political discourse in the region in recent years.

The Joint Awami Action Committee also called for the release of detained activists, including members of action committees in Gilgit-Baltistan, and expressed concern over legal proceedings against political workers and journalists.

In its statement, the alliance criticized legal action taken against core committee member Shaukat Nawaz Mir, stating that his position focused on accountability regarding an incident in which civilians were reportedly injured during a public protest. The committee also raised concerns regarding the detention of a Kashmiri journalist who had conducted a political interview, describing the situation as a matter requiring legal transparency.

The Charter of Demand also includes provisions related to education reforms, including the establishment of two new education boards for Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions. While official notifications have reportedly been issued, the committee expressed concern about funding arrangements, alleging that reallocating resources from the Mirpur education board could create regional disparities.

Political analysts suggest that education governance remains a sensitive issue in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where institutional distribution often intersects with regional representation concerns.

The Joint Awami Action Committee has appealed to local and international media to highlight what it describes as gaps between government commitments and implementation. It has also called on overseas Kashmiris to support advocacy efforts through civic engagement and awareness initiatives.

As the deadline approaches, political observers expect increased public debate regarding governance reforms, electoral credibility, and the broader question of political representation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.