Birmingham, UK: The Jammu & Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), described as one of the most important civic rights movements in recent history, is escalating its campaign against resource exploitation and the constant violation of fundamental rights in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (‘Azad’ Jammu and Kashmir/AJK).
In a recent interview during his visit to the UK, Amjad Ali Advocate, a senior leader of the movement and a practicing advocate in Muzaffarabad, clarified the causes, goals, and unique nature of the JAAC, which has successfully mobilised people across the entire state.
As protests are set to take place across PAK (AJK), a senior leader of the Joint Awami Action Committee speaks exclusively to Dr Serena Hussain about the grassroots movement challenging decades of exploitation and demanding fundamental rights.
Amjad Ali explained that the current public anger among the people of AJK is a culmination of the ‘constant and continuous negation of their fundamental rights since 1947’. He stressed that controlling powers have historically ignored the people, focusing only on land and resources. A system was created to exploit AJK by bribing influential local figures with public offices, money, and contracts, ensuring the public remained silent.
While the movement gained momentum through grievances over the rising price of flour and high electricity bills, long-standing environmental concerns were a major contributing factor in areas like Muzaffarabad.
Ali highlighted the severe environmental disaster caused by the diversion of the Neelum River. Crucially, this grievance is compounded by the non-implementation of a 2019 High Court judgment regarding the river diversion and a hydro-electric project. The court directed the government of Pakistan to enter into an agreement with the AJK government within four months and implement all environmental preconditions. However, after six years, this judgment remains unimplemented, contributing significantly to the frustration reflected in the movement.
Amjad Ali refuted claims that the JAAC is composed only of people with nationalist backgrounds, emphasising that it is a public movement drawing people with diverse ideologies from all segments of society. Since 2011, Ali himself has maintained no personal political affiliation, focusing solely on protecting and restoring fundamental rights.
The movement’s remarkable success in mobilising committees across every district of AJK is attributed partly to an understanding among the youth of its disputed status and the high literacy rate within the region – far exceeding Pakistan’s national average. However, the primary factor enabling collaboration across AJK is social media, which has played a critical role. Unlike in the past, when activists relied on print media, social media allows the JAAC’s message to reach every corner of ‘Azad’ Kashmir without being distorted.
When asked why AJK citizens protest when similar concerns exist across Pakistan, Ali emphasised that AJK is fundamentally different because it is not a regular part of Pakistan; it is a disputed area whose future has yet to be decided.
AJK is particularly rich in resources, far exceeding its requirements. Moreover, unlike most countries where population is a liability, nearly half of AJK’s population lives overseas, serving as an asset by sending remittances back without burdening the state.
The high literacy rate also ensures people are highly aware of their fundamental rights. Therefore, the issue is not about demanding extra resources from Pakistan - but rather a reallocation of AJK’s existing resources for better provisions, he explained, “We don't need any extra resources. Instead of spending our whole budget on non-developmental privileges of the ruling elite, you just must make a shift and convert the resources to the provision of basic necessities to the people.”
The grievance, therefore, is clear – an abuse of power by those who have been put in charge to manage the resources of AJK and a longstanding violation of the rights of those they are meant to govern, said Amjad Ali. Yet despite these demands, the ruling elite is fiercely protecting its position and privileges. The JAAC alleges that the elite exploit public funds, including using them for foreign tours as ministers of AJK, even though their status is not recognised internationally.
Initially, the government agreed to meet some of the movement's demands. However, out of the initial 14 demands, only three were addressed: two concerning electricity and flour, and one involving the formation of a judicial commission to assess the unjustified privileges of the ruling elite. However, the commission never proceeded, and the other eleven demands, pertaining to education, health, provision of medicines, and restoration of student unions, were ignored.
Ali explained how the government's policy has in fact been to attempt to pressurise JAAC members including lodging unjustified cases against activists. Authorities attempted to silence the JAAC by introducing the restrictive Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, which would have banned most of their activities. This proposed law was ultimately withdrawn by the government following the AJK Bar Council legally challenging it in the Supreme Court.
Despite commitments made to implement 11 agreed-upon demands by a deadline of June 30th, the government failed to take a single step. Ali expressed concern that the upcoming protest on September 29 ‘could be more dangerous’. He explained how government flag marches are being conducted on the streets, seemingly to provoke the people. Furthermore, a pro-establishment party has announced a 'peace march' for the same day, raising fears of a deliberate confrontation with JAAC protesters.
When asked whether the movement had adopted the name ‘Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee’ rather than limiting itself to ‘Azad’ Kashmir deliberately, Ali confirmed that this was the case, and spoke about how the movement could indeed expand.
An Action Committee has already been formed in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and announced support for the September 29 call. Ali views GB as an integral part of the Jammu and Kashmir state. Furthermore, he acknowledged that the movement's success has implications beyond Pakistan's borders, adding that until the Kashmir dispute is finally resolved in accordance with the principles and the commitments made at the UN, ‘there will always be a question for anyone rising for his rights’ with recent protests in Indian-administered Kashmir being linked to the JAAC movement's influence.
Ali highlighted that the movement depends heavily on overseas Kashmiris, particularly those based in the UK. The primary support required from the diaspora is to pressurise the Pakistani government to ensure the protection of fundamental rights. People living abroad are urged to raise their voice against JAAC arrests without charge, torture, and the victimisation of activists’ relatives employed by the AJK government, which he stressed has become a grave concern.
Furthermore, he explained how AJK’s ruling elite has attempted to discredit the movement through various allegations, including claims of foreign funding. “They have been alleging that this movement is being funded by Indian intelligence agency R&AW. Yet on the other hand, they are also alleging that some Pakistani intelligence agencies are behind this movement just to degrade the status of ‘Azad’ Kashmir to make it a province of Pakistan,” Ali revealed. Despite these attempts at character assassination, the movement has maintained its nonpartisan stance and broad-based support.
When asked about the possibility of the JAAC transforming into a political party, Ali indicated that discussions are ongoing, but no final decisions have been made. While the JAAC is currently non-partisan, its members, who often belong to other political parties, are now choosing to leave those affiliations to remain part of the JAAC. The decision on whether the JAAC will form a political party and contest future elections remains unresolved, pending consultation with their supporters and members, including the overseas diaspora.
The success or failure of this movement may have implications far beyond Pakistan-administered Kashmir, potentially serving as a model for similar movements across the region or, conversely, prompting more severe crackdowns on civil society activism.
As Ali concluded, the movement's demands are not unreasonable. “We just want the redistribution, reallocation rather, reallocation of resources. And our resources are much more than sufficient to meet our demands. But the current political elites who oversee the budgets will have to sacrifice their own privileges to do so.”
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