Federal minister urges dialogue over confrontation as JAAC plans recent protests in AJK
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry addresses a press convention in Islamabad on Sunday. SCREENGRAB
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Sunday rejected claims that the October 3, 2025, settlement with the Joint Awami Motion Committee (JAAC) had largely remained unimplemented, saying the federal government had fulfilled the overwhelming majority of its commitments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
His remarks got here after JAAC introduced protests throughout the area on June 9, prompting the AJK authorities to declare the group a proscribed organisation, accusing it of involvement in terrorism, selling hatred and creating anarchy within the state.
Addressing a press convention, Dr Chaudhry stated the federal government had repeatedly sought to resolve excellent points by means of dialogue however regretted that “false and adverse propaganda” was being unfold concerning the implementation standing of the settlement.
Referring to calls for regarding the illustration of Kashmiri migrants residing in Pakistan, the minister stated 4 choices had been proposed, together with discussing the matter by means of an all-parties convention comprising all registered political events in AJK.
Rejecting claims circulating on social media that solely three clauses of the settlement had been applied, Dr Chaudhry stated that, as a signatory to the accord and a participant within the negotiations held with JAAC in October 2025, he needed to current the implementation document earlier than the general public “clause by clause”.
Based on the minister, the primary dedication associated to circumstances registered in opposition to demonstrators throughout protests and the lengthy march held in September 2025. He stated 177 FIRs had been withdrawn by means of notifications issued on a number of dates in December 2025.
Nonetheless, he famous that circumstances regarding 14 deaths had not been withdrawn and remained sealed, whereas a proposal to determine a judicial fee was nonetheless into consideration.
Dr Chaudhry stated authorities staff suspended for collaborating within the demonstrations had been reinstated, whereas employment had been offered to the members of the family of deceased protesters, together with the widow of 1 sufferer.
He additional said that electrical energy payments of beneficiaries affected by the Mangla Dam Elevating Venture had been waived, with the related notifications already issued.
The minister stated the Nationwide Freeway Authority (NHA) had accomplished a feasibility examine for the Khuiratta–Azad Pattan Street mission and submitted it to the Ministry of Communications, with particulars shared with the AJK authorities.
On different commitments, he stated the procurement of electrical energy metres by means of e-tendering had begun, whereas measures had been taken to enhance flour high quality by sourcing provides from each PASSCO and native mills.
Dr Chaudhry stated progress had additionally been made on increasing web providers by means of the Common Service Fund mechanism. The authorized framework had been finalised and implementation work had already commenced, he added.
He stated a waste administration system had been launched in Muzaffarabad, whereas growth schemes price Rs2.7 billion had been launched throughout 9 districts.
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Concerning native authorities reforms, the minister stated the AJK cupboard had permitted the matter and constituted a ministerial committee to pursue the mandatory legislative modifications. He added that notifications had been issued concerning electrical energy tariff concessions for personal colleges and sure industrial models.
The minister stated discussions with the State Financial institution of Pakistan on the scheduling of the Financial institution of Azad Jammu and Kashmir had resulted within the issuance of the required notifications.
He additionally introduced that two new federal boards had been established and notified, whereas the distribution of belongings related to the Mirpur board was beneath method.
Dr Chaudhry additional stated implementation had begun on allotment commitments for prolonged households in Mirpur district and people affected by the Mangla Dam Elevating Venture. He added {that a} well being card scheme had already been launched for residents of AJK, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan.
On healthcare infrastructure, he stated a mission price roughly Rs5 billion to offer MRI machines and CT scanners to district hospitals had been permitted by the related authorities in AJK and can be accomplished quickly.
The minister stated Rs10 billion had been allotted beneath the Public Sector Improvement Programme (PSDP) for electrification and upgradation works, which might assist tackle electricity-related points throughout the area.
He maintained that calls for concerning the discount of the dimensions of the AJK cupboard and authorities places of work had additionally been fulfilled. Based on him, the variety of ministers had been lowered to twenty, whereas the variety of authorities places of work had been reduce to 22.
Dr Chaudhry stated an ordinance regarding the merger of anti-corruption and accountability establishments had been issued, whereas the NHA was conducting feasibility research for 2 tunnels on the Neelum Valley Street.
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Concerning Mirpur Airport, the minister stated Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities to pursue the mission even earlier than JAAC raised the demand. He stated feasibility work was beneath method, though industrial airways had but to indicate vital curiosity.
The minister additionally cited progress on hydroelectric tasks, bridge building schemes, tax aid measures, water provide tasks and transport coverage reforms. He stated a proposal to grant property rights to refugees residing in Mandhol Colony, Dadyal, had been permitted by the cupboard on Sunday.
Summing up the implementation standing of the settlement, Dr Chaudhry stated all clauses that may very well be executed by means of government orders or cupboard choices had been accomplished. These included compensation for the households of deceased individuals, help for injured protesters, reinstatement of staff and the withdrawal of FIRs.
He argued that growth tasks resembling roads, tunnels, airports, electrification schemes and healthcare infrastructure required longer implementation durations and couldn’t moderately be accomplished inside a couple of months.
“Mega tasks take years to finish, whether or not in Azad Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere in Pakistan,” he stated, including that repeated protests and lengthy marches over ongoing growth schemes have been unjustified.
The minister stated the federal government possessed documentary proof, together with notifications, ordinances, compensation information and feasibility research, to substantiate its claims.
Rejecting allegations that the October 3 settlement had largely remained unimplemented, he maintained that 35 of its 38 clauses had both been accomplished or considerably acted upon, whereas the remaining provisions have been both topic to courtroom orders or constrained by sensible concerns.
Dr Chaudhry urged all stakeholders to pursue dialogue as a substitute of confrontation, stressing that violence was not an answer to political disputes.
He warned in opposition to makes an attempt to create unrest in AJK and questioned whether or not such actions served the pursuits of Pakistan, AJK or the broader Kashmir trigger. “The answer to those points shouldn’t be violence,” he stated, including, “The answer is dialogue. We can’t enable regulation and order to deteriorate or harmless lives to be misplaced.”
