Azad Kashmir is the part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir that was liberated from the Dogra rule as a result of an indigenous revolt in 1947. The territory is under the administrative control of Pakistan, with its own legislative assembly and government. The constitutional status of Azad Kashmir remains ambiguous, as according to the Article 257 of the Constitution of Pakistan “When the people of the State of Jammu and Kashmir decide to accede to Pakistan, the relationship between Pakistan and the State shall be determined in accordance with the wishes of the people of that State.” Thus, the status of Azad Kashmir is currently not defined constitutionally.
Since its inception, Azad Kashmir has seen several political upheavals. All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference remained the sole political party in Azad Kashmir for initial decades, but later on the mass political parties of Pakistan also made their Azad Kashmir wings. Azad Kashmir has reflected the politics in Pakistan in terms of the nature of respective regimes. However, it is no exaggeration to state that Azad Kashmir has been subject to periods of intense political instability, even more than Pakistan. It was quite evident during 2006 and 2011 when four Prime Ministers were sworn in and removed unceremoniously.
Since 2011, Azad Kashmir witnessed relative political stability. It was a sign of maturity of the political leadership. It was also a sign of positive political and constitutional development in AJK. Despite the differences among the leaders in Muzaffarabad and Islamabad, it was managed that governments in Muzaffarabad complete their constitutional terms. It looked that finally Azad Kashmir was on the path of a democratic political culture, but the euphoria did not last long as after the elections of 2021, Azad Kashmir again witnessed political upheavals of an unexpected magnitude within two years of the elections.
As Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan was removed from the office by the High Court of Azad Kashmir by an unprecedented and botched move, it was evident that Azad Kashmir was destined to experience severe political instability again. Though Chaudhary Anwar-ul-Haq’s rule began without many tremors, the political instability in Azad Kashmir today was always on cards. Pundits had already suggested that a mala fide move of unceremoniously removing a Prime Minister would not beget stability.
Since his ascension to the office, Chaudhary Anwar has come out as an utter failure, politically and administratively. It is quite clear that Anwar wants to run a “one-man show” as he has not capitulated any portfolio to the twenty-nine strong cabinet he has formed. Anwar has also been quite prodigal in spending large sums from the budget for pandering to the legislators, so that his government remains intact.
The most significant development during Anwar’s premiership has been the state-wide civil disobedience movement. The series of protests and sit-ins in Azad Kashmir this year began around June-July with the demands of reinstatement of subsidy on flour and waiving off extra taxes in electricity bills. As the government of AJK hiked the electricity prices, the locally assembled “action committees” announced that they will be conducting a boycott of the electricity bills. The action committees have now included the demand of completely free electricity for AJK in their charter of demands. The government of AJK has failed to address the concerns of those protesting and the movement has lingered on and survived.
The agitation led by action committees has been completely peaceful and has tested the nerves of Anwar rigorously. Anwar blinked first and ordered a crackdown against those observing sit-ins in different cities. This move failed miserably and has riled up the public even further. Even women and children have joined the protests and public all across Azad Kashmir is fully charged against the incumbent government. Each passing day is making the political climate in Azad Kashmir fiery.
Chaudhary Anwar-ul-Haq has subjected Azad Kashmir to severe political and constitutional instability by running his “one-man show” and showing disregard towards dominant public sentiment. His style of governance has eroded people’s trust in institutions. Political forces in Azad Kashmir have been rendered irrelevant due to the nature of the regime that was imposed on Azad Kashmir under Anwar. It is no surprise that people have rallied behind action committees instead of political parties.
The political and constitutional crises in Azad Kashmir can wreck the ship of democracy. Today Azad Kashmir stands at the verge of complete chaos and democratic structure in Azad Kashmir is at the verge of collapse. People are losing trust in their representatives and the situation is spiraling out of control. All of this has been brewing since the unceremonious removal of a popular Prime Minister. To avoid a complete disaster, it is the need of the hour that Azad Kashmir is given a responsible government; one that salvages it out of the whirlpool of political instability.
Written by Sardar Shabraiz Sabir
Ex political Secretary PM AJK
Ex political Secretary PM AJK
