Pakistan Government and Protesters Reach Historic Agreement to End Deadly Unrest in PoK

At least 10 people have lost their lives and numerous others have been injured during protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Pakistani federal government and protesters reached an agreement on Saturday to end the ongoing demonstrations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir that have resulted in at least 10 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

The region's peace was disrupted by a strike that commenced on September 29 following the breakdown of negotiations between officials and the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), which represents the protesters.

Protesters had presented a 38-point charter of demands, warning authorities they would take to the streets if these demands were not met. When they eventually did so, violent confrontations with police ensued, claiming the lives of at least 10 individuals, including three police officers, with hundreds of civilians and police personnel sustaining injuries.

As the unrest expanded, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a high-level delegation to Muzaffarabad on Wednesday to seek a negotiated resolution to the conflict.

The delegation, headed by former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, engaged in extensive talks over two consecutive days, concluding around midnight. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on social media that the two sides had reached an agreement.

"Negotiating delegation has signed the final agreement with the Action Committee.... The protesters are returning to their homes. All roads have been reopened. This is a victory for peace," he posted on X.

The agreement document shared by Chaudhry on X contained 25 points aimed at ending the protest, including compensation for those killed during the violence, filing terrorism cases related to violent incidents and vandalism that resulted in deaths of police personnel and protesters.

The federal government also agreed to establish two additional intermediate and secondary educational boards for Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions in PoK.

It was decided that the local government would release funds within 15 days for implementing health cards providing free medical treatment, and that MRI and CT Scan machines would be supplied to each district in PoK by the federal government in phases.

Additionally, the federal government committed to providing PKR 10 billion for improving the electricity system in PoK.

The agreement stipulates that the PoK cabinet will be reduced to 20 ministers and advisors, and administrative secretaries will not exceed 20 at any time. Some departments will be merged to decrease the government's size.

The Government of Pakistan agreed to conduct a feasibility study for constructing two tunnels at Kahori/Kamser (3.7 KM) and Chaplani (0.6 KM) along the Neelum Valley road.

A high-powered committee comprising legal and constitutional experts will be formed to address issues concerning members of the PoK Assembly.

The agreement also includes plans for constructing an international airport at Mirpur.

Property transfer taxes will be adjusted to match those in Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 3 months.

A monitoring and implementation committee will be established to oversee the execution of the agreement.

Friday marked the fifth consecutive day of shutdown, with public transportation paralyzed. Only motorcycles and a few private vehicles were observed on some roads. The communications blackout imposed on Sunday continued, causing growing discontent among residents.