Federal minister urges dialogue on confrontation as JAAC plans fresh protests in AJK
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry addresses a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday. SCREEN CAPTURE
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Sunday rejected claims that the October 3, 2025 agreement with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had remained largely unimplemented, saying the government had fulfilled the vast majority of its commitments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
His comments came after JAAC announced protests across the region on June 9, prompting the AJK government to declare the group a proscribed organisation, accusing it of being involved in terrorism, promoting hatred and creating anarchy in the state.
In a press conference, Dr Chaudhry said the government had repeatedly tried to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue, but regretted that “false and negative propaganda” was being spread about the status of implementation of the agreement.
Referring to the demands regarding representation of Kashmiri migrants residing in Pakistan, the minister said four options had been proposed, including discussion of the matter through an all-party conference involving all political parties registered in AJK.
Rejecting claims circulating on social media that only three clauses of the agreement had been implemented, Dr Chaudhry said that as a signatory to the agreement and a participant in the negotiations held with JAAC in October 2025, he wanted to present the implementation record to the public on a “clause by clause” basis.
According to the minister, the first undertaking was regarding the cases registered against protesters during the protests and the long march held in September 2025. He said that 177 FIRs had been withdrawn through notifications issued on multiple dates in December 2025.
However, he noted that cases involving 14 deaths had not been withdrawn and remained sealed, while a proposal to establish a judicial commission was still being considered.
Dr Chaudhry said government employees suspended for participating in the protests had been reinstated, while relatives of deceased protesters, including the widow of one victim, had been provided with employment.
He further stated that the payment of electricity bills of the beneficiaries affected by the Mangla Dam construction project had been waived and relevant notifications had already been issued.
The minister said the National Highways Authority (NHA) had completed a feasibility study for the Khuiratta-Azad Pattan road project and submitted it to the Ministry of Communications, with details shared with the AJK government.
Regarding other commitments, he said the procurement of electricity meters through e-tenders had begun, while steps had been taken to improve the quality of flour by providing supplies from both PASSCO and local mills.
Chaudhry said progress had also been made in expanding internet services through the Universal Service Fund mechanism. The legal framework has been finalized and implementation work has already begun, he added.
He said a waste management system had been introduced in Muzaffarabad, while development plans worth Rs 2,700 crore had been launched in nine districts.
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Regarding local government reforms, the minister said the AJK cabinet approved the matter and constituted a ministerial committee to carry out necessary legislative changes. He added that notifications have been issued regarding electricity tariff concessions for private schools and certain commercial units.
The minister said discussions with the State Bank of Pakistan regarding the scheduling of the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir resulted in the issuance of required notifications.
He also announced that two new federal boards had been set up and notified, while the distribution of assets associated with the Mirpur board was underway.
Dr Chaudhry further said that implementation of allocation commitments for extended families in Mirpur district and those affected by the Mangla Dam Lifting Project had begun. He added that a health card scheme has already been launched for residents of AJK, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Regarding healthcare infrastructure, he said the relevant authorities in AJK had approved a project worth about Rs 5 billion to provide MRI machines and CT scanners to district hospitals and it would be completed soon.
The minister said Rs 10 billion had been allocated under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for electrification and upgrading works, which would help address electricity-related problems across the region.
He maintained that the demands regarding reduction in the size of the AJK cabinet and government offices have also been met. According to his words, the number of ministers was reduced to 20, while the number of government positions was reduced to 22.
Dr Chaudhry said an ordinance related to the merger of anti-corruption and accountability institutions had been issued, while the NHA was carrying out feasibility studies for two tunnels on Neelum Valley Road.
Read: AJK arrests 72 people in crackdown on banned group
Regarding Mirpur airport, the minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities to proceed with the project even before JAAC raised the demand. He said feasibility work was underway, although commercial airlines had yet to show significant interest.
The minister also cited progress on hydropower projects, bridge construction plans, tax relief measures, water supply projects and transportation policy reforms. He said the cabinet had on Sunday approved a proposal to grant property rights to refugees residing in Mandhol colony, Dadyal.
Summing up the status of implementation of the agreement, Dr Chaudhry said all clauses that could be implemented through executive orders or cabinet decisions had been completed. These included compensation for the families of the deceased, support for injured protesters, reinstatement of employees and withdrawal of FIRs.
He argued that development projects such as roads, tunnels, airports, electrification schemes and healthcare infrastructure required longer implementation periods and could not reasonably be completed in a few months.
“Mega projects take years to complete, whether in Azad Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere in Pakistan,” he said, adding that repeated protests and long marches over ongoing development plans were unjustified.
The minister said the government had documentary evidence, including notifications, ordinances, compensation records and feasibility studies, to substantiate its claims.
Rejecting accusations that the October 3 agreement had remained largely unimplemented, he maintained that 35 of its 38 clauses had been completed or substantially implemented, while the remaining provisions were subject to court orders or limited by practical considerations.
Dr Chaudhry urged all stakeholders to seek dialogue rather than confrontation, stressing that violence is not a solution to political disputes.
He warned against attempts to create unrest in AJK and questioned whether such actions served the interests of Pakistan, AJK or the broader cause of Kashmir. “The solution to these problems is not violence,” he said, adding: “The solution is dialogue. We cannot allow law and order to deteriorate or innocent lives to be lost.”
