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ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore announced Friday that his administration has fulfilled 98% of the reform agenda agreed last year with the&nbsp;Joint Awami Action Committee, a move he says has stabilized the region and restored public confidence in the political system. Speaking at a news conference in Muzaffarabad, the AJK PM stated that the government prioritized the implementation of the &quot;38-Point Agreement&quot; signed with the committee representatives.The accord addressed long-standing economic and administrative grievances that had previously sparked unrest in the region. The AJK PM said the administration implemented the agreed terms just six weeks after taking office to bridge the divide between the state and the public. &quot;The public has once again placed its confidence in the democratic process,&quot; he said. &quot;In just one and a half months, we have implemented all matters related to the agreement&nbsp;promised with the Joint Awami Action Committee during the oath-taking ceremony.&quot; Reforms enacted The AJK PM issued formal directives to launch a universal health card scheme intended to support low-income residents. The AJK government&nbsp;also advanced the financial status of the Bank of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The administration approved a Rs9 billion ($32 million) capital injection to meet State Bank of Pakistan requirements. This will help pave the way for the institution to operate as a scheduled commercial bank. It&nbsp;has maintained the subsidized tariff structure for electricity and wheat flour mandated by the agreement. It is also proceeding with the restoration of the Local Government Act of 1990 to devolve administrative power to local representatives. Governance and stability The AJK PM said that the government&rsquo;s adherence to the pact has eliminated any public distrust&nbsp;that characterized the previous year. He said the current administration is focused on preventing any return to instability or violence. AJK PM Rathore noted that the cabinet, which has convened five times since assuming office on Nov. 17 last year, resolved public interest issues through dialogue rather than confrontation. He said the government seeks to compete only with its own performance standards to ensure continued service delivery. The administration has now turned its focus to the remaining procedural aspects of the agreement to ensure full compliance, he added.

Politics

AJK PM stated his government fulfilled 98% of reforms in six weeks, including delivering subsidized electricity, flour, health cards, and bank upgrades.

Government has delivered on key reforms, rebuilt public confidence: AJK PM 

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expanded the federal negotiation team tasked with defusing tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to his office, amid ongoing protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).&nbsp;According to an official statement, the team has travelled to Muzaffarabad to engage in dialogue with JAAC leaders and provide recommendations to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;The expanded team now includes Senator Rana Sanaullah, Federal Ministers Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Ahsan Iqbal, senior leaders Amir Muqam, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, former AJK president Masood Khan, and Sardar Masood Ahmed.&nbsp;PM Sharif emphasized that peaceful protest is a democratic right, but warned against actions that disrupt public order and peace. He directed law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and avoid excessive use of force, assuring protesters that the government is committed to addressing their concerns.&nbsp;Dialogue and government responseSharif also announced support for families affected by the unrest and has called for a transparent investigation into the recent violence. He said he will personally oversee the negotiation process upon his return from London.&nbsp;Federal Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry reiterated the government&rsquo;s openness to dialogue, saying it is now the JAAC&rsquo;s responsibility to help stabilize the situation.&nbsp;Background of the unrestProtests erupted across AJK on September 29, triggering a near-complete shutdown in Muzaffarabad. Markets remained closed, public transport was suspended, and most schools were empty, despite being officially open.&nbsp;The JAAC submitted a 38-point charter of demands, which included the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri migrants from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and royalty payments from regional hydropower projects.&nbsp;Government officials reported that nearly 90% of the demands were accepted. However, two key demands &mdash; reducing the number of ministers and abolishing migrant seats &mdash; were rejected, as they require constitutional amendments.&nbsp;Calls for calmAt a joint press conference on Wednesday, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq urged the JAAC to resume talks. They warned that continued violence would undermine public welfare.&nbsp;&ldquo;Public rights are affected where human lives are lost,&rdquo; said PM Anwar-ul-Haq, noting that the federal government had already engaged in extensive negotiations, resulting in a draft agreement.&nbsp;Officials added that federal ministers stationed in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot will oversee the implementation of any agreements reached with protest leaders.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expanded a federal team to negotiate with protest leaders in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, urging calm and restraint. Most protest demands were accepted, as talks continue to resolve the unrest.

Articles tagged with "AJK protests"

Government has delivered on key reforms, rebuilt public confidence: AJK PM

Pakistan PM expands negotiation team to ease Azad Kashmir tensions