By Sardar Aftab Khan
Several months after the Muzaffarabad Agreement, progress remains uneven and frustratingly slow. Yet one truth is undeniable: the people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir are not silent. United under the platform of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), their collective voice is stronger than ever, and their demand is both simple and legitimate — promises must be translated into reality.
In early October 2025, the streets of Azad Jammu & Kashmir spoke with a single voice. Ordinary citizens, workers, students, traders, mothers, and elders came together in peaceful but resolute protest, demanding dignity, justice, and basic rights. This unprecedented unity culminated in a historic outcome: the Muzaffarabad Agreement, signed by the Government of Pakistan, the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and JKJAAC.
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This agreement was not an act of charity. It was a commitment — to justice, relief, reform, and improved governance. A special implementation committee was also constituted to ensure that these commitments would not remain rhetorical. Today, months later, the public asks a legitimate question: Where do we stand?
The answer is mixed — and that is precisely why this moment matters.
Delayed Justice Is Denied Justice
Some steps have been taken; some commitments have seen partial movement. Yet many assurances remain stalled, unresolved, or obscured by silence. In several cases, no verifiable evidence has been presented to the public. This is not an exercise in blame — it is a matter of trust.
Authorities claim that most FIRs filed against protestors have been withdrawn. However, several cases — particularly those involving deaths — remain pending. Citizens continue to report serious repercussions: damaged character certificates, travel restrictions, and names quietly added to watchlists without explanation or due process. This was not the justice that was promised.
The agreement also committed to independent judicial inquiries into deaths and incidents. Officials state that the High Court has been approached, yet no commission has formally begun work, nor has any public timeline been issued. What people demand is exactly what was promised: official notifications, appointment of judges, and transparent schedules.
Relief Must Be Visible, Not Whispered
There are reports that compensation and employment have been provided to affected families, and some beneficiaries confirm progress. Yet no official lists or supporting documentation have been made public. Transparency is not optional — it is essential. Names, payments, and appointment orders must be formally recorded and accessible.
Representation Requires Reform, Not Reaction
Reforms related to refugee seats in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly remain unresolved. JKJAAC has reiterated its demand to abolish the twelve seats reserved for Jammu & Kashmir refugees residing in Pakistan, including those affected by the Mangla Dam.
This demand reflects deep public frustration with political manipulation, electoral distortion, and governance instability. However, outright abolition is a reactive political step with serious constitutional and democratic consequences. Refugee representation is constitutionally protected under Article 22 of the 1974 Interim Constitution. A complete removal risks weakening representative structures and harming the collective Kashmiri political identity. What is needed is equitable reform, not erasure.
Healthcare Cannot Wait
Health cards were promised within 30 days. Committees were formed, meetings held — yet health cards remain inactive and citizens cannot register. People need treatment, not meetings.
Approvals for MRI and CT scanners exist, but installations have not materialized. Hospitals require dates, not assurances.
Power and Essentials Demand Integrity
A PKR 10 billion electricity improvement fund was announced. Plans and files exist, but the public has no clarity on disbursement timelines or allocation details. Similarly, billing relief promised to Mangla Dam affectees remains unclear in practice. Bills must stop in reality, not merely on paper.
Reforms Must Be Genuine
The cabinet has been capped at 20 ministers, but the spirit of reform is undermined when unelected advisers and special assistants are appointed on high salaries. Nepotism erodes credibility. Anti-corruption legislation is reportedly under preparation, but without a definitive timeline. The public deserves clear dates and firm enforcement.
Education Must Be Equitable
New education boards in Muzaffarabad and Poonch have yet to be established. While open merit is in place, outcomes are unequal — non-local students are securing a disproportionate number of seats compared to local candidates. Merit must not only exist in name; it must be fair in effect.
Student unions remain a distant promise, awaiting clear rules and genuine participation.
Land Is Dignity
Mangla Dam-affected families still await legal land ownership documents. Refugees in Mandor Colony were promised immediate proprietary rights, yet policies are still being drafted. Legal ownership cannot be postponed indefinitely.
Infrastructure Commitments Must Be Honored
Feasibility studies for roads and airports are underway, but timelines remain unclear. In the case of the Neelum Valley tunnels, the narrative shifted abruptly from feasibility to rejection — without the transparent review promised in the agreement.
Bread Matters
The agreement committed to a 70% local and 30% imported wheat blend to ensure price and quality stability. The approved 50/50 ratio deviates from this commitment. If change is necessary, the public deserves a clear explanation.
What Demands Immediate Attention?
Complete withdrawal of all FIRs
Removal of names from ECL/PCL without due process
An end to offloading and arrests of Azad Kashmir citizens at airports
Immediate initiation of judicial commissions with clear timelines
Urgent issuance of health cards
Transparent disclosure of electricity funding projects
Land ownership rights for affected families
A clear and public position on assembly seat reforms
Implementation of the agreed wheat supply ratio — or a transparent justification for deviation
This Is Not Politics — It Is Trust
People protested peacefully, endured losses, and were promised relief and reform. They do not ask for silence or ambiguity — they ask for honesty, clarity, and implementation.
And they are not alone.
JKJAAC remains committed to strengthening public voices, ensuring effective representation, and holding authorities accountable through peaceful, legal, and principled means. Where unity has been maintained, progress has followed — and where unity endures, more progress will come.
History bears witness: when the people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir stand together with patience, principle, and perseverance, promises turn into reality. Under the umbrella of JKJAAC, the public voice is strong, clear, and impossible to ignore.
Stay united. Stay strong. Stay hopeful.
The promise made in Muzaffarabad can still be fulfilled — if we collectively insist on it.
About the Author
Sardar Aftab Khan is a public servant, policy strategist, researcher, and advocate for democratic reforms in Azad Jammu & Kashmir. With over 35 years of service, he has worked extensively on Kashmiri national identity, public rights, grassroots empowerment, and inclusive political participation.
Contact: [email protected]
Date: 13 January 2026
