March 8th Meeting: What Does JK Joint Awami Action Committee Want Now?

Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir: Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a prominent civil society coalition in Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir, has issued a sweeping declaration demanding immediate reforms across governance, public safety, and infrastructure. The group warned of “full-scale resistance” if its demands are ignored, escalating tensions in the politically sensitive region.

Key Demands and Criticisms:

1. Governance Overhaul:

• JPAC refuses to engage with assembly members not directly elected from Azad Kashmir, calling the current legislative body “interim” and illegitimate.
• It rejected a motion to increase privileges for lawmakers, arguing that lavish benefits for an “interim assembly” violate public trust.

1. Public Safety and Policing:

• The committee accused police and administration of becoming “tools of elite oppression,” citing recent harassment cases against women in Mirpur, a Baloch woman, and student violence in Muzaffarabad.
• It demanded an end to the “black law” Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance, condemning the arrest of activist Mujtaba Banday under the colonial-era statute.

1. Food Security and Corruption:

• JPAC criticized the government for deploying “inadequate mobile labs” to test food quality instead of establishing permanent facilities. It urged authorities to first test flour supplies and “expose big mafias” behind adulterated goods.

1. Electricity and Infrastructure:

• The coalition demanded an end to discriminatory load-shedding, repairs to dilapidated power lines, and crackdowns on electricity theft.
• It called for restoring the 2017 policy for National Testing Service (NTS) candidates, alleging recent changes disadvantage local aspirants.

1. Digital Demands:

• JKAAC warned the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to improve internet services and roll out 5G in Azad Kashmir, threatening “direct action” if ignored.

Broader Political Standoffs:

• The group backed a High Court ruling to implement the Local Government Act, vowing to resist any “unconstitutional” amendments.
• It rejected the Tourism Act 2021 and demanded a ban on “green tourism” projects, which activists claim threaten local ecosystems.

Ultimatum and Mobilization:

JKJAAC set a May 10 deadline for its ward-level committees to organize protests, signaling preparations for a prolonged campaign. “If the government continues its oppressive policies, we will respond decisively,” the declaration stated.

Context and Implications:

Azad Kashmir, a disputed region between Pakistan and India, has seen rising civil society activism amid allegations of administrative neglect and centralized control from Islamabad. The JKJAAC’s demands reflect broader frustrations over governance, economic inequality, and infrastructure gaps.

The region’s government has yet to respond to the ultimatum. Observers warn that unmet demands could trigger widespread unrest, particularly as the committee gains traction among students, traders, and grassroots organizations.