Protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) Force Government to Revoke Controversial Ordinance

After days of widespread protests that brought Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) to a standstill, the regional government on Sunday withdrew a contentious presidential ordinance and accepted several demands from the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) coalition. The demonstrations, which gained significant momentum on Saturday, saw thousands of citizens enduring harsh weather conditions to rally at key entry points, including Brarkot, Kohala, and Holar.

The protests culminated in plans to march towards the Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad’s Chattar neighborhood on Sunday.

Opposition to the Peaceful Assembly Ordinance

The protests were primarily driven by opposition to the ‘Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance, 2024.’ The ordinance prohibited unregistered organizations from holding public gatherings or protests and required registered groups to seek permission a week in advance for such activities.

Sensing growing public outrage, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), a coalition partner in the regional government, was the first to reject the ordinance during a meeting in Karachi. Shortly thereafter, Shah Ghulam Qadir, regional president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), echoed similar sentiments.

Amid mounting pressure, President Barrister Sultan Mahmood announced that he had directed Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq to revoke the ordinance. The government subsequently initiated the necessary steps to address the protesters’ demands.

Negotiations Yield Agreement

On Sunday morning, a government delegation, including Health Minister Nisar Ansar Abdali, Information Secretary Sardar Adnan Khurshid, Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan, and DIG Shehryar Sikander, met JKJAAC leaders in Kohala for formal negotiations. The discussions resulted in a written agreement addressing key demands and additional concerns.

The agreement included:

• Withdrawal of all cases against activists within seven days to three months.
  
  
• Reinstatement of dismissed teacher Sohaib Arif in Poonch.
  
  
• Permanent employment for the brother of Azhar, killed in the May 13 firing incident.
  
  
• Compensation of Rs1 million each to four injured individuals from the same incident, to be paid within a week.
  
  
• Waiver of electricity meters and bills for houses affected by the Mangla Dam upraising.
  
  
• Joint efforts by the Punjab and POK governments to restore roads damaged by the Azad Pattan Dam project.
  
  
• Improved flour quality and adjusted allocations based on population.
  
  
• Procurement of electricity meters through e-tendering in the next fiscal year.
  
  
• Empowerment of local representatives with funds and authority.
  
  
• Establishment of a committee to draft a code of conduct for student union elections.

Additionally, the government agreed to hold six months of dialogue to address the JKJAAC’s broader ‘Charter of Demands.’

Celebrations and Resolution

By noon, the government delivered official notifications, including the repeal of the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance 2024, the release of detainees, and reinstatement of dismissed teacher Sohaib Arif. Protesters, led by JKJAAC leaders, celebrated the resolution with rallies in Muzaffarabad’s Lal Chowk, Supply Bazar Rawalakot, Bagh, Kotli, and other locations.

Information Minister Pir Mazhar Saeed commended the JKJAAC for maintaining peaceful demonstrations and thwarting disruptive elements. He expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including the judiciary, civil society, media, and law enforcement, for ensuring order during the protests. “Resolution through dialogue was our preference, and we succeeded in it,” he remarked.

Calls for Resignation and Fresh Elections

Despite the resolution, political fallout ensued. PTI’s regional president and former POK premier Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi called for the immediate resignation of the coalition government, demanding fresh elections. He criticized the administration’s handling of the situation, stating, “Had they realized the sensitivity of the matter and withdrawn the black law earlier, they could have saved themselves from public resentment and disgrace.”

Former POK premier Raja Farooq Haider of the PML-N also demanded Prime Minister Haq’s resignation. He described the withdrawal of the ordinance as a belated response and evidence of the coalition government’s incompetence. “The withdrawal of the ordinance is like a post-mortem cure, highlighting the hybrid regime’s failure,” he stated.

The protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir underscore the growing discontent with governance in the region. While the withdrawal of the controversial ordinance marks a significant victory for the protesters, the political turbulence and calls for fresh elections signal a larger struggle for accountability and reform.