PoK protest: Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir face BIG humiliation as Pak govt forced to its knees in PoK; Islamabad agrees to…

PoK Protest: In a major defeat for the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led civilian and the military establishment led by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, Islamabad was forced to bow to protesters’ demands in restive Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as the two sides reached an agreement on Saturday, following a week of violent protests that have left at least 10 people dead and hundreds injured.

What does the agreement include?

According to media reports, on Saturday, an agreement was signed between federal government officials and leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a representative body of protestors, with the Shehbaz Sharif government, hailing the deal as a “victory of peace”.

• The document includes compensation for those killed in violence, registering cases of terrorism on the incidents of violence and vandalism resulting in deaths of police personnel and protestors, as well as Islamabad agreeing to set up two additional intermediate and secondary educational boards for Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions in PoK.
• As per the agreement,  local government would issue funds for the implementation of health cards within 15 days for free treatment of patients and that MRI and CT Scans machines shall be provided, phase-wise, at each district of PoK by the federal government.
• Additionally, the cabinet size in PoK shall be reduced to 20 ministers and advisors, and the number of administrative secretaries shall not be more than 20 at any given time, while some departments would be merged to reduce the size of the regional government. A high-powered committee comprising of legal and constitutional experts will will deliberate on the issue of members of the PoK Assembly, it said.
• The federal government also agreed to build two tunnels at Kahori/Kamser (3.7 KM) and Chaplani (0.6 KM) on the Neelum Valley road, and feasibility study for these projects will be carried out soon. The Government of Pakistan will also allocate PKR 10 billion for the improvement of the electricity system in PoK, and steps would be taken for the construction of an international airport at Mirpur.
• Further, a Monitoring and Implementation committee will be set up to oversee and implement the agreement.

Why protests erupted in PoK?

The latest round of protests erupted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on September 29 when talks broke down between Islamabad and JKJAAC, who had issued a 38-point charter, urging authorities to accept their demands or face mass protest. The protests turned violent as agitators clashed with police and armed forces, resulting in the killing of at least 10 people, including three police personnel.

As the unrest escalated, Islamabad deployed a high-powered delegation led by former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, which engaged in extensive discussions for two consecutive days in PoK capital Muzaffarabad. The negotiation concluded on Wednesday midnight, with the two sides eventually reaching a compromise which led to the signing of the agreement.

“Negotiating delegation has signed the final agreement with the Action Committee…. The protesters are returning to their homes. All roads have been reopened. This is a victory for peace,” Chaudhry announced on X.

According to experts, the people of PoK, who have long-accused Islamabad of negligence, apathy, and corruption, were driven to the brink when the Pakistani state threatened to use force against protesters.

Earlier, while addressing a protest gathering in Muzaffarabad, prominent action committee leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir said the protests were not directed against any particular institution, but aimed to push for fundamental rights of PoK natives who he claimed have been denied these rights for the last 70 years..