Joint Awami Action Committee on PoK Protest: Amid the protests and violence that have been going on in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) for the past several months, there seems to be a major change in the stance of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). On Saturday, Prime Minister’s advisor Rana Sanaullah issued a statement in support of the protesters, saying that 99 percent of the people protesting are patriots. He also said that the party leaders will soon meet the representatives of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) which is leading the movement.
The JAAC comprises members from diverse sections of society, including students, businessmen, transporters, lawyers, and social activists. The organization has been agitating for its demands in PoK for over two months. However, the PoK regional government banned the JAAC in June.
Significantly, until a few days ago, the PML-N had been supporting the security crackdown against protesters. The party had claimed that members of the banned terrorist organization Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were present among the protesters. Therefore, the PML-N’s changed stance is being linked to the increasing pressure from the protesters.
PML-N to meet JAAC representatives
Speaking at a rally on Saturday ahead of the third phase of the PoK assembly elections, Rana Sanaullah said 99 percent of the people associated with the JAAC are patriots. He added that if the PML-N forms the government with a two-thirds majority, the party will hold talks with JAAC representatives and resolving the dispute will be the government’s priority.
The PoK Assembly has a total of 45 elected seats. Voting has been completed in two phases, and the PML-N has won 25 seats so far, surpassing the majority mark. Its main rival is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the PML-N’s coalition partner in Pakistan’s central government. Voting is scheduled for four seats in the third phase on Monday, while elections for seven seats have been postponed indefinitely.
What are the main demands of JAAC?
JAAC’s key demands include the abolition of 12 disputed refugee seats in PoK, which the organization alleges are used to facilitate the formation of a government and prime minister of its choice.
The protesters are also raising demands on economic, political, and administrative issues. Internationally, questions have been raised about the actions of security forces during the protests. Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have expressed concern and demanded an investigation into the incidents.
Tensions escalated after the elections.
Tensions in the region escalated after the election process began in PoK on July 27. JAAC claims that more than 40 people, including women and children, have died since the elections. The organization also claims that approximately 400 protesters have been killed since the first week of June. However, the Pakistani government has denied these figures of civilian casualties, calling them exaggerated.
On August 7, the United Nations also expressed concern about the security situation in PoK. It stressed the need for accountability for the actions taken against peaceful protesters.
India reiterates its stand on PoK
Amid the ongoing developments in PoK, India has consistently maintained that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of India. India maintains that Pakistan has illegally and forcibly occupied parts of these areas.
In this context, the ongoing protests in PoK and the PML-N’s changed stance have increased the political and administrative challenges facing Pakistan. It remains to be seen whether the proposed talks with the JAAC will actually pave the way for an end to the protests or whether the protests in PoK will continue.