JKJAAC Declares Statewide Lockdown from 29 September as Protests Intensify Grassroots Mobilisation Underway as 38-Point Charter of Demands Goes Public
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MUZAFFARABAD / RAWALAKOT, 29 August 2025 — The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has called for an indefinite state-wide shutdown across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) beginning 29 September, amid growing public frustration over the government’s failure to honour past agreements.
The decision comes alongside the release of JAAC’s comprehensive 38-point Charter of Demands, which includes calls for the abolition of reserved legislative seats for Kashmiri migrants in Pakistan, reduced vehicle taxes, improved telecommunication services, and a regional referendum on refugee representation.
Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri, a prominent member of JAAC’s Core Committee, outlined a four-phase operational strategy already in motion—from ward-level coordination to union council deployments—aimed at ensuring complete public participation in the shutdown.
“We are activating every union council, tehsil, and ward,” Kashmiri told The Azadi Times. “From Rawalakot to the smallest village, our volunteers are mobilising communities. This is not just a protest—it is a movement for accountability.”
Background and Escalation
The current wave of discontent traces back to May 2024, when JAAC-led protests forced the government to commit to subsidies on flour and electricity, and to roll back privileges enjoyed by the political elite. Although some financial commitments were made in subsequent budgets, implementation has been partial, eroding public trust.
JAAC representatives say repeated violations of written agreements—signed in December 2023, February 2024, May 2024, and December 2024—have left them with no option but to intensify their movement.
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The 38-Point Charter
Key demands include:
Scrapping 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri migrants outside AJK
Reversing recent hikes in vehicle taxes and fees
Expanding mobile network and internet services in remote areas
Addressing alleged irregularities in university appointments
Introducing a health card scheme on the model of Pakistan’s Sehat Card
Ensuring recovery of citizens allegedly abducted by armed groups
Holding a public referendum on refugee representation in the AJK Assembly
Four-Pronged Mobilisation Strategy
Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri detailed the following operational plans:
Public Awareness Campaigns: Rallies and meetings at union council levels to educate people about the charter and shutdown.
Ward-Level Coordination Committees: Hyper-local teams to manage communication and logistics.
Union Council Deployment: Volunteer teams and resource centres established for protest coordination.
Open Sharing of Plans: Transparent dissemination of readiness activities through posters, social media, and community networks.
Ground Response
From Mirpur to Muzaffarabad, billboards, digital flyers, and community meetings signal growing public support. Transport associations in Mirpur are already pledging support for the strike, while nightly gatherings in Kotli are drawing large crowds.
Government Silence
The AJK government has yet to issue an official response. However, with previous court rulings protecting the right to protest, and JAAC’s disciplined organisational base, officials face limited options to curb the movement without political engagement.
What’s at Stake
The shutdown represents more than a protest—it is a barometer of deeper structural grievances linked to representation, service delivery, and governance. With a month until the planned action, all eyes are on whether the government will negotiate or confront.
The Azadi Times will continue to cover developments across all districts of AJK.
