MUZAFFARABAD: A fresh wave of political unrest has gripped Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK), despite marathon negotiations between the government and the Public Action Committee that reportedly resolved nearly 70 percent of the Committee’s demands. The impasse is now drawing concern from observers who see it as part of a deeper crisis of governance and representation in the region.
At the center of the dispute is the government’s controversial move to abolish 12 reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees—long a sensitive issue tied to questions of political voice and demographic balance. The Public Action Committee also challenged elite privileges and demanded cuts to cabinet expenditures, issues that resonate with widespread public frustration over inequality and weak accountability.
While the 12-hour dialogue was hailed locally as a “moral victory” for the protest movement, analysts argue that the government squandered an opportunity to defuse tensions fully. Instead of negotiating compromises—such as proportional representation or a phased reduction in elite benefits—the administration’s decisions have been seen as heavy-handed, reinforcing the perception of state overreach.
For the people of PaK, who rallied strongly behind their representatives, the crisis is not merely about seats or perks—it reflects deeper anxieties over exclusion, lack of transparency, and the fear that peaceful protest may once again be met with coercion rather than accommodation.
International observers say the episode highlights the fragile political environment in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where decisions taken in haste carry long-term implications for democratic credibility and regional stability. With public attention now fixed on the next round of negotiations, the crisis is testing both the government’s political maturity and its willingness to respect representative voices.
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