FOLLOWING intensive negotiations between the special committee appointed by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Awami Action Committee (AAC) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the ongoing protest has ended.

The prolonged strike, while rooted in some public demands, severely disrupted daily life particularly for; patients, travelers, business community, students, and the broader public. The AJK government, under Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, failed to engage with the AAC in a timely and meaningful way, reflecting serious issues in governance and political responsiveness. The situation deteriorated further as a result of clashes between protestors and police, leading to casualties both deaths and injuries that could have been avoided through early dialogue and a more compassionate approach by the administration. The absence of strategic foresight and lack of empathy from the political leadership of AJK, including a large ministerial team, only escalated tensions from September 29 to October 3, 2025. The state’s reliance on force, coupled with the protestor’s resorting to violence, created a distressing and unfortunate crisis that cast a shadow over both AJK and Pakistan.

Notably, this was the second major protest by the Awami Action Committee after a similar uprising in May 2024 in the administration of same leadership. These repeated demonstrations highlight a deepening disconnect between the people and the AJK government, raising serious questions about administrative effectiveness and internal unity.........

© Pakistan Observer