Muzaffarabad (Pakistan administered Kashmir) — Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court has ordered the removal of Shoukat Nawaz Mir, Chairman of the Traders’ Union Muzaffarabad and a prominent member of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), from his official position.
According to court proceedings, a petition was filed challenging the legitimacy of the elections through which Shoukat Nawaz Mir assumed leadership of the Traders’ Union. The court ruled that the elections did not comply with the AJK Traders Union Act, thus invalidating his tenure.
Mir Responds: “No Recent Elections Were Held”
In an exclusive interview with local journalists, Shoukat Nawaz Mir rejected the court’s reasoning, stating that no recent elections were held under his leadership:
“The last union-wide elections were conducted five years ago with mutual consent and a set of agreed-upon regulations by traders from across Azad Kashmir. This decision seems completely untimely and politically motivated.”
Timing Raises Eyebrows Amidst Public Rights Campaign
The court’s verdict comes just a day before a major public event is scheduled by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, which aims to commemorate the first anniversary of the May 13 martyrs of Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee— individuals killed during protests last year in Azad Kashmir while demanding basic rights.
Originally set for May 13, the event was postponed to May 24 due to increased tensions and reported casualties along the Ceasefire Line (LoC) between Pakistan and Indian-administered Kashmir. Organizers feared further escalation and shifted the event to ensure public safety.
Shoukat Nawaz Mir claims the timing of the court’s decision was intended to disrupt and weaken the momentum of the planned demonstration:
“This ruling, just a day before a massive public event, appears to be an attempt to sabotage our peaceful movement for fundamental rights. The people of AJK see through this.”
No Official Response from Government Yet
As of now, the AJK government has not issued an official response to the court’s decision or Mir’s allegations. The situation has sparked heated debates on social media, with many questioning whether judicial decisions are being selectively enforced to suppress dissent.
Who is Shoukat Nawaz Mir?
Shoukat Nawaz Mir is a well-known figure in Muzaffarabad and across Azad Kashmir, recognized for his leadership role in the Traders’ Union and his vocal advocacy for civil rights and economic justice. He has played a pivotal part in organizing protests and strikes demanding better governance, basic rights, access to electricity, clean water, and infrastructure development.
The removal of Shoukat Nawaz Mir from the chairmanship of the Traders’ Union Muzaffarabad just ahead of a major public gathering raises serious concerns about judicial neutrality and freedom of expression in Pakistan-administered Azad Kashmir. As the May 24 event approaches, eyes will be on Muzaffarabad to see how authorities handle the growing public demand for justice and accountability.
