Catching up on sleep today after remaining engaged with an AJK wide public that converged on Muzaffarabad at 2030hrs yesterday evening. The martyr's conference didn't end before 0500hrs this morning.
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The following is an English translation of the Urdu text released by Joint Awami Action Committee earlier this morning:
Declaration from the “Martyrs of Jammu & Kashmir & Public Rights Conference”
Date: May 24, 2025 | Venue: Muzaffarabad
Issued by: Jammu & Kashmir Joint Public Action Committee
Public Statement
The overwhelming public presence at Muzaffarabad is a clear and irrefutable expression of growing public discontent and erosion of confidence in the current ruling establishment. The following resolutions and demands are formally adopted and issued in pursuit of democratic rights, constitutional accountability, and social justice in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and the broader Jammu & Kashmir region.
Charter of Resolutions and Demands
1. Homage to the Martyrs
We solemnly honor the sacrifices of the martyrs of Kashmir and of the public rights movement. Their struggle for justice, dignity, and sovereignty shall continue until its objectives are fully realized.
2. Endorsement of Non-Violent Resistance
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to peaceful democratic struggle. Our two-year-long campaign of non-violent civil resistance stands as proof of our belief in transformative political change through peaceful means.
3. Condemnation of Civilian Losses
We express deep sorrow and condemnation over the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of property as a result of cross-border hostilities between Pakistan and India. The human cost borne by innocent civilians on both sides of the Line of Control is unacceptable and must cease immediately.
4. Demand for a Just and Peaceful Resolution of the Kashmir Dispute
We declare that sustainable peace in South Asia is not possible without a just and democratic resolution of the Kashmir conflict, grounded in the will and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
International Appeal: We call upon the United Nations and the global community to immediately implement the long-denied Right to Self-Determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, as guaranteed under international law.
Warning: Any attempt to impose a unilateral decision or provoke armed confrontation in Kashmir shall be met with peaceful mass resistance, including symbolic defiance through crossings of the ceasefire line.
5. Warning Against Nuclear Escalation
We warn that an armed conflict between two nuclear states—India and Pakistan—could escalate into a catastrophic nuclear exchange, potentially resulting in the deaths of over two billion people.
Appeal to Global Citizens: Raise your voice for peace, justice, and the self-determination of the Kashmiri people to avert such a disaster.
6. Immediate Release of Gilgit-Baltistan Leaders
We condemn the unlawful arrests of leaders from the Gilgit-Baltistan Action Committee and demand their immediate and unconditional release.
7. Final Ultimatum to the Government
The government is hereby given until June 8, 2025, to fully implement the previously agreed Charter of Demands. Failure to do so will compel us to announce the next phase of public action from the Mirpur Division.
Warning: Should the state push us into action once again, it alone will be responsible for the consequences.
8. Rejection of Elite Privileges and Entitlements
We denounce the recent expansion of privileges, perks, and entitlements granted to political elites and high-ranking officials. These are a direct affront to the struggling masses and must be repealed immediately.
9. Release of Political Prisoners
We demand the immediate release of Yasin Malik and all other Kashmiri political prisoners and freedom fighters currently held in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir.
10. End to Enforced Disappearances
We demand an end to the illegal practice of enforced disappearances. All individuals taken into custody must be handed over to the relevant legal authorities in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and brought before a court of law.
11. Enforcement of Merit-Based Recruitment
All appointments made on the basis of nepotism, political favoritism, or personal affiliations must be annulled. Only individuals selected through transparent, merit-based processes should be employed in public services.
12. Termination of Reserved Political Representation and External Resource Allocation
We demand the immediate abolition of the 12 seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that are reserved for individuals classified as "Refugees Settled in Pakistan."
These seats undermine the sovereignty of local representation and skew the democratic mandate of AJK.
We further demand the termination of all employment quotas and state benefits allocated to such individuals in the AJK public sector.
All development funds purportedly allocated for this category and spent outside the territorial limits of Azad Jammu & Kashmir must be ceased and reallocated for the benefit of the region’s residents.
13. End to Unannounced Load-Shedding
The practice of prolonged and arbitrary power outages must end immediately. Azad Jammu & Kashmir must be declared a load-shedding-free zone as a matter of public right and policy.
14. Expansion of the Charter of Demands
In light of continued government inaction, our movement now adopts an expanded 16-Point Charter of Demands, including but not limited to:
Free and accessible healthcare
Equal and inclusive education for all
Establishment of an international airport in AJK
Guaranteed access to safe drinking water and irrigation resources
Elimination of systemic corruption, bribery, and nepotism
Final Deadline: June 8, 2025, for full compliance with all prior demands.
Note: This declaration marks the beginning of a new, intensified phase of the public struggle.
(Translated by Shams Rehman)
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