Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) is holding the first phase of local elections on July 27, following weeks of deadly protests and boycott calls from the recently outlawed Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a grassroots alliance of civil society groups.
JAAC demands the abolition of 12 seats in the regional assembly reserved for people displaced from Indian-administered Kashmir now living in Pakistan, arguing that only residents of Pakistan-administered Kashmir should be eligible to contest regional elections.
The dispute escalated after the Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir ruled that the refugee seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment. The regional government outlawed JAAC in June under anti-terrorism laws, detaining dozens of supporters.
The unrest has left around 30 people dead since June, according to Reuters. India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in its entirety, but each controls only a section, making the Muslim-majority region a longstanding flashpoint since 1947.
Authorities split polling into three phases: voting in Mirpur on July 27, in protest-hit Poonch division on August 10, and in the regional capital Muzaffarabad on August 2 due to security concerns. JAAC continues a sit-in in Rawalakot near the Line of Control with India.
A key question is whether the elections can restore public confidence or merely offer a temporary pause in anger. “We are just asking for fair representation, which is our right,” said protester Ali Raza. “Local people should choose their representatives, not refugees from India.”
Analysts say JAAC protests marked a significant shift in Kashmir’s politics by uniting citizens around economic and governance issues. However, if key grievances remain unresolved, another wave of protests cannot be ruled out. “The next government will have little credibility and limited room to govern unless it reaches an understanding with JAAC,” said expert Imran Khan.
Source: www.dw.com