MUZAFFARABAD: For the first time in the history of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, thousands of uniformed police personnel held a region-wide pen-down strike, demanding long-overdue financial entitlements and parity in service benefits. The region has approximately 80,000 police personnel, including traffic police and Rangers. What began as a pen down strike escalated into full-scale demonstrations, leaving police stations and check posts across the region nearly deserted.
In Muzaffarabad, the capital, police staged a protest outside the District Old Secretariat, refusing to return to duties despite efforts by senior officers to negotiate. Similar protests were held in Mirpur, Kotli, Bagh, Rawalakot, Poonch, Neelum, Haveli Kahuta, and Jhelum Valley. In Mirpur, police personnel assembled outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office and formally presented a 10-point Charter of Demands.
In Neelum and Bagh, demonstrations were held outside police installations and drew growing public support. In Haveli Kahuta, police led a protest rally and pledged not to return to work until all demands were met.
At the heart of the strike is a detailed list of demands, centered on long-ignored financial reforms and equality with other government departments and armed forces. The striking police say they have been consistently left out of salary revisions, medical benefits, and service allowances that others have received.
Demands of striking police personnel
Among the key demands:
Salaries of Martyred Personnel:
Police families currently receive frozen salaries of martyred personnel until the notional retirement age of 60, without any annual increments or budget raises. Police are demanding that increments and annual budget adjustments be applied each year, and that full pension benefits be granted after age 60.
Daily Allowance (DA):
Still calculated on the outdated 2008 basic pay, the DA must be updated to the 2022 pay scale. Police also demanded the abolition of the old classification system (e.g., “Special” vs “Normal” status) to ensure fairness.
Risk Allowance:
Like the DA, this is still being paid on 2008 rates. The allowance must reflect the 2022 pay scale and current risk levels.
Ration Allowance:
A demand has been raised to set the ration allowance at Rs 500 per day, in line with prevailing market prices and inflation.
Medical Entitlement:
Currently, police receive only Rs 1,500 per month for medical expenses and have no entitlement to treatment at major hospitals. They are demanding the same access to CMHs (Combined Military Hospitals) in both Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistan as military personnel. If treatment is unavailable at CMHs, the cost of private care should be reimbursed without delay, with processing handled by police headquarters.
Uniform Allowance:
Police are demanding the immediate end of centralized uniform procurement. Instead, they want a direct allowance—equaivalent to that provided to the Army and Rangers—so personnel can purchase higher-quality uniforms independently.
Constabulary and Washing Allowances:
These allowances have not been adjusted in years. Police are calling for urgent increases to reflect rising living costs.
Conveyance Allowance:
Still based on 2012 rates, this must be updated in line with 2025 salary scales.
House Rent Allowance:
Currently tied to 2008 pay scales, this allowance should be revised to match 2025 salary levels to reflect the housing market.
Disparity Reduction Allowance:
This allowance, already granted to other government departments twice, must now be extended to police to address long-standing pay inequalities.
Pending 32% Salary Increase from 2008:
In 2008, a 100% salary increase was approved for police, but only 68% was implemented. Police demanded the immediate release of the remaining 32% and all back pay.
Recommendations to Home Department
On June 11, 2025, before the AJK government’s budget session, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Rana Abdul Jabbar, formally alerted the Home Department about the mounting frustration within the force. The IGP's letter noted that between 2016 and 2022, police employees were repeatedly excluded from pay and allowance increases granted to other civil servants—even though police serve in the most dangerous conditions, including counter-terrorism and VVIP security.
The IGP also cited several unimplemented decisions, including a 100% Special Allowance approved on 2017 scales, and revised Field Duty and Travel/Daily Allowances (FDA and TA/DA), which are still paid at obsolete 2012 rates. The IGP requested that frozen salaries be unfrozen and that new pay scales be fully adopted. He estimated the total cost of implementation at Rs 2.25 billion annually—Rs 1.47 billion for the Special Allowance and Rs 770 million for upgraded TA/DA.
The ongoing strike has paralyzed policing across Pakistan-administered Kashmir, raising serious concerns about public safety and emergency response.
Despite this, the protesting police personnel have vowed to continue until all demands are officially accepted.
As of Monday evening, the AJK government has not issued any official response.
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