Many of the protests were organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of Azad Kashmir, representing a variety of interests including traders, transporters, lawyers and students.
[12][13][14] The government attempted to preempt a planned demonstration on 12 May by arresting the movement's leaders, which inflamed protests and led to deadly clashes.
[1] From 2022 Pakistan experienced increased economic malaise, flooding and political unrest that fueled discontent; with headline inflation at a 38pc, 700,000 Pakistani's losing their jobs, unsustainable debt levels and fiscal burdens.
[19][20][21] Floods in 2022 led to more than 33 million losing their homes, land or jobs, the death of 800,000 livestock and the destruction of 28,000 schools, with severe impacts on Pakistan's economy.
[22] Inflated electricity rates began led to increased public anger, leading to nationwide shutdowns and strikes in "practically all of Pakistan's major cities.
[30] In September 2023, protests were held in all major towns of Azad Kashmir with thousands of protestors, and traders' associations, transporters and lawyers observed a strike.
[40] Chaudhry Anwarul Haq claimed that the government had accepted "all demands of Awami Action Committee," and "notified subsidies on food and electricity.
[2] On the same day the AJK government had Yasin Qureshi, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Muzaffarabad transferred, and appointed Irfan Masood Kashfi in his place.
Pakistan Today and Hum News also claimed that the government was planning to change Muzaffarabad Commissioner Masoodul Rehman with Adnan Khrushid.
Abdul Majid Khan, a spokesperson for the AJK government claimed that “All the demands of the protesters have been fulfilled, and the situation will hopefully return to normalcy now."
[4] According to Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the suspension of Internet Services by the government prevented news of successful talks from reaching protestors.
In Muzaffarabad, the arrested activists included Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the elected leader of traders, and several other members of the action committee.
The News reports that near Mirpur's Islam Garh protests turned violent as firing on police trying to block the way of protestors led to ASI Adnan Qureshi being shot in the chest.
JAAC spokesperson Hafeez Hamdani said that the action committee had nothing to do with the violence and stated "It seems that such elements have been purposely planted in the ranks of protesters to bring a bad name to a struggle that aims nothing but the legitimate rights of the people."
'"[55] On the 12th of May an article in Dawn stated that after 48 hours of violent clashes the situation in Muzaffarabad seemed "to have calmed down," with the Ranger detachment from Kohala withdrawn from Azad Kashmir.
[57] In the aftermath of protests, JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir stated that the committee is a peaceful organization willing to negotiate with the government.
[57] The Government responded to the protests by suspending Internet in the Region while Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir offered to reconcile with talks and to negotiate with the JAAC and said that they had already worked out 99% of the demands.
[67] According to Pakistan Today, "peace and calm appear to have returned to Azad Jammu and Kashmir on the third day of demonstrations," further remarking "while normal life remains disrupted with businesses shuttered and public transport halted in various cities."
Additional police forces were removed from entry and exit points of Bhimber, as it was claimed business centres were opening up and traffic flowing normally.
[42] Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muzaffarabad Nadeem Janjua confirmed that 28 individuals had been arrested during the protests under charges of attacking police and causing damage to vehicles.
This came after the announcement in wheat subsidies and the reduction of electricity rates at production cost following the Rs23 billion Federal package to Azad Kashmir.
JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir supported the Prime Minister's acceptance of their demands after more than a year, further lamenting the suspension in internet services which according to him prevented news of successful talks from reaching the protestors.
He also said the JAAC demanded compensation for the three demonstrators killed in clashes with Rangers and called for a judicial commission to investigate police violence.
Abdul Majid Khan, a spokesperson for the AJK government claimed that “All the demands of the protesters have been fulfilled, and the situation will hopefully return to normalcy now.
[2] The JAAC also denied any claims of being supported by India, stating "our fight is not with the state of Pakistan"[36] In November 2024, six months after initial protests, the AJK government promulgated the 'Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance 2024', with divisional commissioner of Muzaffarabad saying "[u]nder this ordinance, any gathering or assembly in AJK requires a written application for permission to be submitted to the district magistrate at least seven days in advance."