Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has refuted media reports claiming that Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Anwarul Haq has been removed from office due to his alleged lackluster response to the recent unrest in the region.
Speaking to reporters in the federal capital, Chaudhry said there was no truth in the reports of the AJK Prime Minister’s removal, adding that neither resignation nor such a move was being considered. He added that no action had been taken in this regard.
وزیراعظم آزاد کشمیر کو ہٹائے جانے یا ان کے استعفی کے خبروں میں کوئی صداقت نہیں ہے pic.twitter.com/xTPeZPKqRx
—Dr Tariq Fazal Ch. (@DrTariqFazal) October 8, 2025
Earlier, swirling reports had been circulating that a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had decided to remove the AJK Prime Minister.
A section of the media reported that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan People’s Party would work out a joint strategy for the future, following consultations held during the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.
The decision to remove the AJK Prime Minister was reportedly taken due to his lackluster response to the recent unrest in the region, reports said, adding that he failed to restore normalcy during the unrest, prompting the federal government to intervene and defuse tensions through negotiations with local leaders.
Learn more: Protests in Azad Kashmir become deadly: 9 dead, including 3 police officers, in violent clashes
AJK witnessed violent protests that claimed the lives of nine people and left dozens injured. Calm was finally restored after a government committee held successful negotiations with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
The tense situation in AJK persisted for about a week, as the JAAC observed a shutdown strike demanding reforms and improvement of public services in the region.
During the strike, AJK experienced a communication breakdown and incidents of violence were reported from Dhirkot and other areas. According to official figures, 172 police officers and 50 civilians were injured during the clashes.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the government formed a two-member committee comprising Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engr Amir Muqam to hold talks with JAAC leaders in Muzaffarabad.
The JAAC presented a broad charter of demands, including an end to the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the removal of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees and the abolition of the quota system.
“Historic” 25-point agreement to defuse tensions
After days of protests and tensions within AJK, a major breakthrough was achieved last week when the federal government, the AJK administration and the JAAC reached an agreement in what the leaders hailed as a “historic settlement”.
The agreement covers 12 basic points and 13 additional points. Among the key provisions, families of those killed during the October 1-2 violence will be compensated on par with security personnel and given government jobs, while the injured will get Rs 1 million each.
A judicial commission will be formed to investigate incidents of violence. Two new education boards will be established in Muzaffarabad and Poonch, linked to the Federal Board of Islamabad. The victims of the Mangla dam expansion project will receive possession of the land within 30 days. Amendments to the Local Government Act 1990 will be adopted within 90 days.
Within 15 days, the AJK government will release funds for health cards, and MRI and CT scanners will be provided in every district. The federal government will provide Rs 10 billion to modernize AJK’s power system.
Read also: AJK action committee issues resolved, agreement will be signed soon: Tariq Fazal Chaudhry
The AJK cabinet will be limited to 20 ministers and advisors, while the number of secretaries will not exceed 20. The accountability office and the anti-corruption department will be merged and aligned with the NAB laws. Feasibility studies will be carried out for two tunnels on Kahori/Kamser and Chaplani Neelum roads.
A high-level committee will examine the issue of refugee assembly members, whose benefits and funds will be suspended until the final report. All Kashmiris arrested during the October 2-3 protests will be released.
The additional clauses included judicial inquiries into the incidents at Banjosa, Muzaffarabad, Palandri, Dhirkot, Mirpur and Rawalakot, fixing of a timetable for the Mirpur International Airport project, harmonization of property transfer taxes with Punjab and KP, finalization of feasibility studies for major energy supply projects. water and creation of operating theaters and nurseries in Tehsil headquarters hospitals alongside new bridge projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz hailed the success of the negotiation process in Azad Kashmir. Paying tribute to the members of the negotiating committee, the Prime Minister lauded their individual and collective efforts, terming the development a “great achievement for Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir”.
