AJK Strike Enters Eighth Day as PM Blames JAAC for Violence

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has held the banned Joint Awami Action Committee responsible for driving the region’s unrest into a dangerous phase, as a shutdown across several AJK towns entered its eighth day on Tuesday.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly and later to journalists, Rathore said the crisis had reached a point where lives had been lost and public order had suffered. His remarks came amid continued political tension, business disruption and uncertainty ahead of the Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for July 27.

The protest movement has affected routine life in major urban centres, with markets, transport and fuel supply facing interruptions. While reports from different towns suggested that some shops had begun reopening in the evening, public transport largely remained suspended because the administration had directed petrol pumps to stay closed.

In Rawalakot, where the standoff has been especially tense, the situation remained fragile but no fresh major incident was reported on Tuesday. The prime minister defended the government’s response, saying the state could not ignore breaches of law, while also acknowledging that the administration had a responsibility to prevent further escalation.

Rathore said every side involved in the dispute needed to act with care because the loss of human life had deepened public anger and mistrust. He argued that political disputes should not be allowed to damage the relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir or create divisions that would be difficult to repair.

The prime minister also claimed that his government had already implemented most of the understandings reached with the protest leadership. According to him, dozens of demands falling within the AJK government’s authority had been addressed, while issues requiring federal support, including budget-linked matters, had also moved forward.

A major unresolved issue remains the demand linked to seats reserved in the AJK Legislative Assembly for refugees from Indian-held Kashmir. Rathore said the previous agreement did not include abolition of those seats, adding that a committee had been formed to continue discussions on the constitutional question.

He also rejected claims that concessions on subsidised flour and electricity would be withdrawn if the movement lost momentum. The premier said those relief measures would remain in place, attempting to calm fears among residents who view the subsidies as essential during a period of high living costs.

The continuing strike has raised concerns about the region’s economy, election environment and social cohesion. Traders face losses, commuters struggle with limited movement, and political candidates are finding it difficult to campaign normally in an atmosphere shaped by fear, anger and uncertainty.

The next challenge for the AJK government will be to restore public confidence without widening the confrontation. Dialogue, security restraint and clarity on pending constitutional issues are likely to determine whether the region moves toward normalcy or faces another round of disruptive protests before the July elections.