Pakistan government, PoK protesters sign 25-point agreement after days of unrest and violence

Pakistan government and PoK protesters have reached an agreement after days of violence

The protesters in Pakistan and the Pakistani government on Saturday reached an agreement through a 38-point charter. This came after days of unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The charter was proposed by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), reports said. Tariq Fazal, Pakistan's minister for parliamentary affairs, took to X to announce that the agreement had been reached between the protestors and the government.

“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 said in a post on X.

The agreement that has been reached between the protestors and the government has 25 points, ranging from the registration of the cases of terrorism against incidents that cause fatalities, compensation for the casualties due to the recent violence and several developmental measures for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The developmental measures include two immediate and secondary education boards for Poonch and Muzaffarabad, MRI and CT scan facilities across districts and health cards for free patient treatment - all within 15 days.

Meanwhile, the federal government has also promised PKR 10 billion for enhancing the system involving electricity in PoK. Further, the agreement also promised administrative reforms, including the reduction of the PoK cabinet to 20 ministers and advisors. The administrative secretaries will be limited to 20, the agreement said.

The agreement also has provisions for infrastructure projects and says that a feasibility study will be conducted for two tunnels in Neelum Valley. Meanwhile, certain departments will also see merging, for the purpose of better governance in the area.

Times of India reported that a high-powered monitoring and implementation committee will oversee the enforcement of the agreement to ensure compliance by both sides.

The protests in PoK began on September 29 and resulted in the death of 10 people, including three police personnel. Hundreds of people were left injured in the protests. Following the violence, the public transport was shut down and only motorcycles and a limited number of private vehicles were allowed on the roads.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also dispatched a high-powered delegation to Muzaffarabad on Wednesday to negotiate a settlement with the protestors. The team held discussions for two days, after which, the agreement was reached.