Muzaffarabad – Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) witnessed a complete shutdown for the second consecutive day on Tuesday as protests called by the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JKAAC) continued, deepening the political standoff with the government. Mobile and internet services also remained suspended across the region, compounding public hardship.
The shutter-down strike was observed in both urban and rural centres, including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, and Kotli. Markets, government offices, and educational institutions stayed closed, while public transport services were minimal, bringing routine life to a near halt.
The agitation, driven by demands related to governance issues, excessive perks and privileges of officials, shows no signs of abating. On Tuesday, Minister for Local Government Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, accompanied by ministers Qasim Majid and Dewan Ali Chughtai, once again invited JKAAC leaders for talks to break the impasse.
Government officials maintained that most of JKAAC’s demands had already been met, accusing the group of attempting to disrupt public order. “The government has fulfilled the main demands, yet the JKAAC continues to agitate,” a senior official told reporters.
Meanwhile, JKAAC leadership has announced plans for a long march towards Muzaffarabad. Authorities have already blocked major routes leading to the capital, sparking fears of confrontation if negotiations collapse.
Observers warn that the turmoil in AJK, traditionally regarded as the base camp of the Kashmir freedom struggle, risks diverting attention from the plight of Kashmiris in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). They caution that prolonged unrest could undermine the collective Kashmiri cause for self-determination.
With tensions mounting, both the government and JKAAC remain under pressure to resolve the deadlock before the crisis escalates further.
