Pakistan, Oct. 3 -- On August 29, 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) released a 38-point "Charter of Demands," detailing a comprehensive set of requests intended to address the region's critical economic, political, and social issues. The organization was established in 2022 as a reaction to widespread discontent regarding inflation, joblessness, and alleged governance shortcomings in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). This grassroots initiative, which initially focused on economic concerns such as rising wheat and flour costs, soon attracted considerable attention for its push to resolve AJK's economic difficulties.
Led by Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the JAAC asserts that it functions without a central leader, opting instead for group-based decision-making. This approach is evident in its wide-ranging membership, covering all ten districts of the area and including public sector employees such as police personnel, indicating the movement's increasing impact within important parts of society. Although it has a populist appeal, the JAAC's "Charter of Demands" outlines a broad range of requests, some of which might appear ambitious but do not have clear plans for execution. Key elements in the charter include demands for "free healthcare and education services," the development of large-scale infrastructure projects like tunnels and an international airport, and extensive reforms targeting corruption reduction and better governance.
These requests resonate with the daily challenges faced by AJK citizens, yet specialists have expressed doubts regarding the practicality and financial viability of these broad suggestions. A detailed examination of the charter's economic demands highlights the challenges in meeting its objectives. The push for free healthcare and education, although appealing, would necessitate a significant financial commitment. JAAC offers no clear plan for financing these initiatives, prompting many to question how such extensive reforms could be carried out given the limited resources of the AJK government.
In the same way, calls for significant reductions in government benefits and the elimination of favoritism are certainly crucial but lack a specific strategy, causing them to appear as empty phrases instead of practical answers. One of the most controversial parts of the demands is the push for large-scale infrastructure projects, such as an international airport, expressways, and multiple major tunnels. Although these initiatives would certainly enhance AJK's connectivity and economy, the financial consequences are enormous.
Without addressing how these initiatives would be funded, the proposals risk being nothing more than hollow pledges. Furthermore, the group's position on political representation is deeply polarizing. JAAC advocates for the elimination of refugee seats in the regional assembly and a vote on the matter. These actions might lead to the alienation of a significant portion of the population, making AJK's already complex political situation even more challenging. The region's political system, regulated by the AJK Interim Constitution Act, depends greatly on these seats for representation, and their removal without a defined constitutional approach could heighten tensions and disturb the current balance.
The claims made by JAAC regarding the fight against corruption and favoritism are also viewed with doubt. Although these changes are essential, the group has not offered a clear plan for putting them into action. The lack of specific steps to tackle these long-standing problems raises doubts about the success of the movement's entire agenda.
Although several demands, such as improved job prospects, disability targets, and changes to the judicial system, are popular among the public, the absence of clear financial planning or specific strategies makes them hard to view as a complete solution. For instance, the general regularization of all contract and daily-wage workers, irrespective of their qualifications, might increase the public salary expenses and significantly restrict fiscal freedom. Regarding governance, the charter advocates for major reforms but offers no realistic steps for their execution.
Emphasizing judicial and administrative changes without defined methods of implementation might result in another instance of populism instead of a genuine push for reform. Additionally, the call for a total transformation of the power sector, including supplying inexpensive electricity at the expense of generation from Mangla, could be administratively impractical and would probably impose a significant financial strain on the AJK treasury. Although the JAAC's charter reflects the concerns of the people in AJK, its absence of a specific, workable plan and lack of financial strategy indicate that the movement may be more concerned with gaining public backing than offering practical solutions.
For the residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the key issue is whether JAAC's ambitious promises will result in real advantages or if they will continue to be just another hollow political statement and a temporary public appeal. To move from populist rhetoric to lasting change, JAAC needs to concentrate on interacting with the main political structures within AJK and striving for enduring reforms through the existing political framework. Instead of pushing for big, unrealistic projects, JAAC could focus on attainable objectives such as economic improvements, encouraging local business development, and offering vocational education. Moreover, the movement should explore establishing layered welfare programs to carry out effective initiatives and encourage political discussions to handle delicate matters like the representation of refugees. By taking a more practical and financially realistic approach, JAAC can make sure its demands are not only attractive but also feasible, ultimately delivering real benefits to the people of AJK.
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