2024 Azad Kashmir demonstrations

2024 Azad Kashmir Protests/Violence
Date	8 May 2024 - 14 May 2024 (6 days)
Location	Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Resulted in	Government accept all of protestors’ demands 23b PKR ($82m) grant given to Azad Kashmir Government subsidises wheat price Government subsidises electricity prices Judicial Commission to review privileges of top officials
Parties
Government of Pakistan Government of Azad Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)
Lead figures
• Asif Ali Zardari (President of Pakistan) • Shehbaz Sharif (Prime Minister of Pakistan) • Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry (President of Azad Kashmir) • Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq (Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir) • Shaukat Nawaz Mir (JAAC Chairman) • Amjad Ali Khan (JAAC Core Committee Member) • Imtiaz Aslam (JAAC Senior Leader) • Hafeez Hamdani (JAAC Spokesperson) • Local Parties and Councils (JAAC Claim)
Units involved
• Azad Kashmir Police • Punjab Rangers • Frontier Constabulary • Punjab Constabulary Protestors
Number
Azad Kashmir Police (80,000) Punjab Constabulary (600) Frontier Constabulary (6 Platoons) Punjab Rangers (1300+) Unknown 40,000 (Ex-AJK PM Claim)
Casualties and losses
1 Police Officer killed 78 Police injured Protests 3 killed 28 Arrested (DC Claim) Pre-Protest 70 Arrested (Minister Claim)

The 2024 Azad Kashmir demonstrations were a series of six day long protests, sit-ins, shutter-downs, demonstrations and wheel-jam strikes starting on 8 May against the Federal Government of Pakistan and the Government of Azad Kashmir, calling for lower prices for wheat, flour, and electricity, in addition to other demands. Many of the protests were organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of Azad Kashmir, representing a variety of interests including traders, transporters, lawyers and students. The government attempted to preempt a planned demonstration on 12 May by arresting the movement's leaders, which inflamed protests and led to deadly clashes. The protests were the culmination of a year-long movement against price rises and perceived injustices towards Azad Kashmir. The Federal government announced a Rs23 Billion ($82,685,321) grant to Azad Kashmir, which led to subsidized utility rates and wheat prices being announced on May 13, by the Prime Minister of AJK, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq. On May 14, the JAAC called off the protests, announcing a ‘historic win’ as the government agreed to all demands.

Background

Recent Developments

Meanwhile, protests were occurring in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan as well as several other regions across Pakistan for relief due to massive inflation and high food prices coupled with huge electricity bills. At the same time other movements across Pakistan were occurring such as demands for missing person investigations and Pashtun rights. Pakistan was going in a tough time with floods and political instability combined with insurgencies intensifying. Pakistan's elections were planned for February and this would play a key role as It is believed, with some evidence, that Pakistan's elections were rigged by the government agencies which contributed to a divided electoral result with PPP taking Sindh, MQM taking Karachi, PML-N takeover of Punjab, Fractured Balochistan and PTI gaining total victories in KPK while also controlling Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir from early elections. In the Federal, A coalition of PPP, PML-N, PML-Q, MQM-P and independent candidates formed a government with Shehbaz Sharif as Prime Minister and Asif Ali Zardari as President. Due to evidence of rigging, protests were organized by various political parties and violence also occurred such as the one on 9 February, when two PTI workers were killed and 24 others were injured in demonstrations against electoral fraud in Shangla District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Protests in Azad Kashmir

The protests in Azad Kashmir began in May 2023, in the town of Rawalakot, the headquarters of Poonch District. They were started by a few sit-in protestors against rising prices of wheat flour and electricity. They were soon followed by a boycott of electricity bills, which went unpaid in most areas of Azad Kashmir.

The protestors maintain that the power projects in Azad Kashmir generate 3,000 megawatts of cheap electricity, a third of Pakistan's power generation, but the Azad Kashmir consumers are charged prices five times the cost of production. This is said to be in violation of the Constitution of Pakistan which prohibits the government of Pakistan from making a profit from the residents of Azad Kashmir.

Several rounds of negotiations between the governments of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan, as well as those between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the government of Azad Kashmir have failed to produce results, leading the movement to call for more autonomy in accordance with the mandate given by the United Nations to Pakistan during the Kashmir conflict.

In September 2023, protests were held in all major towns of Azad Kashmir with thousands of protestors, and traders' associations, transporters and lawyers observed a strike. A call for strike was also given for 5 February 2024, which is normally observed as the Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Muzaffarabad Public Action Committees called for a "long march" to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Kashmir, on Saturday, 11 May, to come from all parts of Azad Kashmir. The federal government mobilized 600 personnel of Punjab Constabulary and an unspecified number of Frontier Constabulary in a bid to block the march.

The AJK Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) made ten demands to the government:

• Wheat subsidy similar to Gilgit Baltistan
• Electricity tariff should be determined from the cost of electricity production from the Mangla Hydropower Project in AJK
• Unnecessary perks and privileges of the ruling class and officials should be completely eliminated
• Restrictions on student unions should be lifted, and elections should be conducted
• Kashmir Bank should be scheduled
• Municipal representatives should be given funds and powers
• Cellular companies and internet services should be standardized
• Property transfer taxes should be reduced
• Accountability Bureau should be made active in AJK and amendments should be made to the Act
• Practical restrictions should be imposed on tree cutting and legislation should be enacted to revitalize the local wood industry.

Government Response to Demands

Federal Grant and Subsidies

On 13 May, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the immediate provision of Rs. 23 billion ($82,685,321) to AJK. Following the injection of the Federal grant, the Premier of AJK, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq announced a subsidized rate of Rs. 2,000 per 40 kilograms of flour, down from the previous Rs. 3,100, also notifying a reduction in electricity prices; Rs3 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for 1–100 unit consumption, Rs5 per kWh for 100–300 unit consumption, and Rs6 per kWh for consumption above 300 units. With commercial unit price fixed at Rs10 for 1-300 units and Rs15 for above 300 units. Clarifying that it was a "permanent arrangement," and that it would be included in the up-coming 2024-25 Pakistan Federal Budget. This came after a meeting between the Federal government and AJK ministers and leaders. The Joint Awami Action Committee remained "cautious" on the government response, demanding "written document and not a verbal announcement," requesting formal government notification. Chaudhry Anwarul Haq claimed that the government had accepted "all demands of Awami Action Committee," and "notified subsidies on food and electricity." The government also established a judicial commission to review the privileges of top government officials in AJK. On the same day the AJK government had Yasin Qureshi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Muzaffarabad transferred, and appointed Irfan Masood Kashfi in his place. Pakistan Today and Hum News also claimed that the government was planning to change Muzaffarabad Commissioner Masoodul Rehman with Adnan Khrushid.

Acceptance by the Awami Action Committee

Following this, on 14 May, the JAAC called off protests. "The government accepted all the demands of the protesters yesterday," remarked one JAAC representative, adding "The shutterdown strike is being called off." JAAC Leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir said "[Our protest] movement had three basic demands [which were] cheap flour, cheap electricity and the abolition of privileges for the elite [class]," to Geo News, expressing felicitations to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accepting the protestors demands after more than a year. The JAAC entered into an agreement with the government to release all those arrested and drop all cases according to JAAC Core Committee member Amjad Ali Khan. He also called for the compensation of the 3 protestors killed in clashes with Rangers and a judicial commission to investigate police violence. Abdul Majid Khan, a spokesperson for the AJK government claimed that “All the demands of the protesters have been fulfilled, and the situation will hopefully return to normalcy now." Attaullah Tarar, Federal Information Minister claimed that the situation was addressed due to the Federal grant to AJK. According to Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the suspension of Internet Services by the government prevented news of successful talks from reaching protestors.

Timeline

9 May

In the intervening night of 8 and 9 May, the police arrested around 70 JAAC activists after raiding their residences and those of their relatives in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions. In Muzaffarabad, the arrested activists included Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the elected leader of traders, and several other members of the action committee. In Mirpur's Dadyal Tehsil, a dozen activists were arrested, provoking clashes with traders on 9 May.

A black Vigo vehicle usually associated with Pakistan's Intelligence Service was burned and two officers were injured. The government responded by deploying 5000 policemen and imposing section 144, which caused more clashes. The Inspector General of Police claimed that Indian Intelligence Agencies were involved. The federal cabinet after a consultation session approved the deployment of Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Azad Kashmir for the security of Chinese nationals and to assist the Azad Kashmir police and government.

10 May

JAAC responded to the clashes by announcing its closure of business and calling for a strike on 11 May. Reportedly protestors used sticks and stones to pelt on the police, to which the police responded with shelling and baton charge. In the afternoon. sometime between 5 pm to 7 pm, the police resorted to aerial firing to deter the protesters. A school was tear-gassed but the home minister reported that the protestors had thrown a tear gas shell into the school. A state officer was also held hostage for 4 hours in the chaos. Several Police officers were assaulted as were dozens of protestors and the government claimed to arrest 25 foreign Indian agents at the time while hundreds more were arrested.

11 May

Across the region protest spread, the police reportedly fled in one town rather than to confront the protestors, while in various places, the protestors assaulted the police, reportedly throwing two policemen down from hills while two others rushed to save their lives. Some civilians, horrified by the violence, proceeded to throw themselves to save some policemen such as sitting in between to save them and allowing them to escape and halt the attack by protestors. Videos of the carnage would emerge all day and all night. At one spot the AK-47 rifle of a police officer was stolen, although in the video, it didn't have a magazine. One police officer was shot in the chest and died due to his wounds while more reports of clashes emerged. Although the police had access to heavy weapons such as assault rifles and armoured cars with machines guns, they showed restraint. Military vehicles and personnel were stopped and blocked from travelling across the region.

12 May

A meeting was held between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, and Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, and over the escalating tensions.

Reports of Rangers in Poonch and Muzaffarabad emerged, and it was reported some 1300 had been deployed. Mobile phone and internet services were suspended in different parts of AJK today including Bhimber and Bagh Towns.

JAAC leaders responded to the violence by condemning it and advising its protestors to not go into anti Pakistan rhetoric nor to use violence but rather be peaceful, the leaders also said that they are Pakistanis and "love Pakistan more than anyone else".

The Government responded to the protests by suspending Internet in the Region while Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir offered to reconcile with talks and to negotiate with the JAAC and said that they had already worked out 99% of the demands.

The Protestors continued their long march on the Regional Capital Muzaffarabad although they set out on foot rather then vehicles, heading to Rawalakot and other regions to hold rallies. At the time as per some reports, President Zardari ordered some rangers to pull out of the situation or not to go into action yet. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prepared to hold a meeting the next day on the 13th with his Cabinet, Interior Ministry Officials, Azad Kashmir Government Officials among others. President Zardari requested patience from both sides to work out a agreement.

Between 5 pm PKT to 10 pm PKT, it was reported in the media that the Government had agreed to the demands of the JAAC to deal with the problems. But Bol News reported that the demands have not all been accepted yet and it remains inconclusive. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Sunday peaceful protests were a democratic right, but there should be “no tolerance” for violence.

13 May

The Pakistani prime minister announced a relief package to meet the protestors' demands. A Pakistan Rangers convoy, which was presumably on its way out of Azad Kashmir, entered Muzaffarabad, and was pelted with stones by the protestors. Rangers opened fire at demonstrators blocking their way, leading to several injuries, at least 3 of the wounded died. Locals torched a vehicle of the Pakistan Rangers as the convoy attempted to reach Muzaffarabad. Schools, business and government offices have remained shut down. Internet services that were suspended since the 12th were briefly restored until being taken down again as violence intensified. That JAAC did not announce if it would accept the governments offer and end the protests. According to Pakistan Today, "peace and calm appear to have returned to Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the third day of demonstrations," further remarking "while normal life remains disrupted with businesses shuttered and public transport halted in various cities." Adding that in areas such as Samahni, Barnala and Bhimber "daily life was going on as usual." Additional police forces were removed from entry and exit points of Bhimber, as it was claimed business centres were opening up and traffic flowing normally. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muzaffarabad Nadeem Janjua confirmed that 28 individuals had been arrested during the protests under charges of attacking police and causing damage to vehicles. PTI spokesman Raoof Hasan and former PM of Azad Kashmir, Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi said that PTI was deeply concerned "about the fast-deteriorating situation in AJK," and claimed that the government was "pursuing the policy of Narendra Modi." Urging the government to analyze the motives of the public protests and recognize the demands of the protestors. Abdul Qayyum Niazi called for the resignation of the current AJK government and the calling of fresh elections. He claimed that there were 40,000 protests on the streets.

14 May

On 14 May it was reported that the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) announced it would call off the ongoing protests in AJK. "The government accepted all the demands of the protesters yesterday," remarked one JAAC representative, adding "The shutterdown strike is being called off." However, notifying that state-wide shutter down would be observed until 3:00 PM to honour the people killed in the protests. Earlier in the day the JAAC announced a "black day" to honour the three people who had died in clashes with state agencies. This came after the announcement in wheat subsidies and the reduction of electricity rates at production cost following the Rs23 billion Federal package to Azad Kashmir. JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir supported the Prime Minister's acceptance of their demands after more than a year, further lamenting the suspension in internet services which according to him prevented news of successful talks from reaching the protestors. Amjad Ali Khan, a member of the JAAC core committee speaking about the details of the JAAC agreement with the government said that the authorities agreed to drop all cases and release arrested individuals. He also said the JAAC demanded compensation for the three demonstrators killed in clashes with Rangers and called for a judicial commission to investigate police violence. Abdul Majid Khan, a spokesperson for the AJK government claimed that “All the demands of the protesters have been fulfilled, and the situation will hopefully return to normalcy now." Responding to another demand, the government established a judicial commission to review the privileges of top government officials in Azad Kashmir.