Pakistan administered Jammu & Kashmir 2025: Protest, conflict, and power shift in PaJK

From India-Pakistan military escalation in May to deadly protests and a government collapse in November, Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir experiences its most turbulent year in decades
A view of the meeting organised under the aegis of Joint Awami Action Committee in Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir.
A view of the meeting organised under the aegis of Joint Awami Action Committee in Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir.Photo/Danish Irshad
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January

Jan. 6: Traders’ associations in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur hold meetings over rising electricity tariffs and wheat flour shortages, warning of agitation if subsidies are not restored.

Jan. 18: Transport unions announce fare hikes, triggering scattered protests in Kotli and Bhimber.

February

Feb. 5: Student groups and civil society organizations mark Kashmir Solidarity Day with parallel demands focused on economic rights and governance, diverging from official rhetoric.

Feb. 21: A coalition of traders, lawyers, and transporters begins informal coordination, later emerging as the Joint Awami Action Committee.

March

Mar. 11: Demonstrations are held in Mirpur against elite privileges, including tax exemptions and subsidized utilities for ministers and legislators.

Mar. 27: Protest organizers announce a draft charter demanding electricity price caps, wheat subsidies, and cuts to official perks.

April

Apr. 23: Following the deadly Pahalgam tourist attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, PaJK authorities heighten security across Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley, and border districts amid fears of Indian military action.

Apr. 30: Emergency preparedness drills are quietly conducted in several PaJK districts.

May

May 1: PaJK authorities order the temporary closure of religious seminaries, citing security concerns as India-Pakistan tensions escalate.

May 7: Indian missile and air strikes hit targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Explosions are reported in Muzaffarabad. Residents flee to surrounding hills overnight as electricity is cut and schools close.

May 8: Pakistan announces retaliatory action and claims to down Indian aircraft, placing PaJK on high alert.

June

Jun. 3: Schools reopen gradually across PaJK as immediate hostilities subside, though security restrictions remain.

Jun. 19: Protest organizers resume mobilization, accusing the government of exploiting the security crisis to delay economic relief.

July

Jul. 12: Large demonstrations take place in Kotli and Rawalakot over electricity bills issued without subsidy adjustments.

Jul. 28: Monsoon warnings are issued for Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Haveli districts, compounding economic distress.

August

Aug. 5: The Joint Awami Action Committee announces plans for a region-wide shutdown if demands are not met by September.

Aug. 26: Talks between PaJK ministers and protest leaders collapse without agreement.

September

Sept. 25: A complete shutdown is observed across PaJK. Markets close and transport halts in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber.

Sept. 29: Gunfire erupts during a protest rally in Muzaffarabad. One protester is killed, and more than two dozen people are injured.

October

Oct. 1: Internet and mobile services are suspended across PaJK as protests turn violent.

Oct. 2: Pakistani authorities confirm at least eight deaths over four days of clashes between protesters and security forces.

Oct. 4: Protest leaders call off demonstrations after the government accepts key demands, including subsidies on wheat and electricity.

November

Nov. 17: The PaJK Legislative Assembly passes a no-confidence motion, removing Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq from office.

Nov. 18: Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore is sworn in as the new prime minister of PaJK.

Nov. 21: The new government announces a cabinet and pledges to implement protest agreements.

December

Dec. 9: Civil society groups stage monitoring rallies, demanding written notifications on subsidies ahead of winter.

Dec. 22: The year ends with political uncertainty as implementation of protest commitments remains partial.

A view of the meeting organised under the aegis of Joint Awami Action Committee in Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir.
Bar on protests in Pakistan administered Kashmir fuels shutdown in Muzaffarabad

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