Islamabad:
After days of protests and tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a major breakthrough was achieved on Saturday when the federal government, the AJK administration and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) reached an agreement on what leaders hailed as a “historic settlement”.
The negotiations were called to the instructions by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and chairman of former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
The federal side was represented by ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ahsan Iqbal, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Engineer Amir Muqam and Qamar Zaman Kaira. From AJK, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore and Dewan Ali Chughtai participated, while Jaac was represented by Raja Amjad, Shaukat Nawaz Mir and Anjum Zaman.
A high level of monitoring and implementation committees have been established under the leadership of the Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam with representation from the AJK government and JAAC to oversee the enforcement of the agreement and address potential disputes.
The agreement covers 12 core and 13 additional points. Among the most important provisions, families of the killers in the violence on October 1 to October 2nd will be compensated on a par with security staff and given government jobs, while the wounded will receive RS1 million each.
A judicial commission will be composed to investigate the events.
Two new educational boards will be established in Muzaffarabad and Poonch, which are linked to the federal board of Islamabad. Victims of the Mangla Dam extension project will be transferred to the possession of land within 30 days. Amendments to the Local Government Act in 1990 are adopted within 90 days.
Within 15 days, the AJK government will release funds for health cards, and MRI and CT scanning machines will be delivered in each district. Pakistan’s government will give RS10 billion to upgrade AJK’s electricity system.
The AJK cabinet will be uncovered to 20 ministers and advisers, while the number of secretaries does not exceed 20. Accountability Bureau and Anti-Corruption Department will be merged and adapted to NAB LOVE. Feasibility studies will be carried out for two tunnels on KAHORI/CAMPS AND CHAPLANI NEELUM ROADS.
A high -level committee will investigate the issue of refugee assembly members with their perks and funds suspended until the final report. All Kashmiris, which were arrested during Protests 2 to 3 October, are released.
Further clauses include judicial investigations of events in Banjosa, Muzaffarabad, Palandri, Dhirkot, Mirpur and Rawalakot, which sets a timeframe for Mirpur International Airport Project, harmonizing property transfer fees with Punjab and KP, which ends with the help of main scope for larger water defenses, Driver theaters and nurses at t tehsil -manager projects.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif welcomed success with the negotiation process in Azad Kashmir.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the members of the Negotiating Committee, praised the Prime Minister their individual and collective efforts and called the development a “great achievement for Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir”.
He said that the restoration of peace and normalization of the situation was a positive development. “Conspiracies and rumors have finally ended, and all cases have been resolved amicably, Alhamdulillah.”
The Prime Minister also thanked the members of the Joint Action Committee for their role in the successful conversations and congratulated them with restoration of peace.
He repeated the government’s commitment and said, “The government is always ready to solve the questions from our Kashmiri brothers. Public interest and peace are our priority and we will continue to serve Azad Jammu and Kashmir.”
The Prime Minister urged AJK’s people to avoid being aware of rumors and assured them that their rights would always be protected. “We have always been protectors of the rights of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters and will continue to protect their rights in the future as well.”
The prime minister submitted that his government had always paid special attention to the questions of AJK and solved them on a priority basis.
