The 2024 Azad Kashmir protests were a series of six day long protests, sit-ins, shutter-downs, demonstrations and wheel-jam strikes starting on 8 May against the Federal Government of Pakistan and the Government of Azad Kashmir, calling for lower prices for wheat, flour, and electricity, in addition to other demands. 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.[15] The protests were the culmination of a year-long movement against price rises and perceived injustices towards Azad Kashmir.[16][17] The Federal government announced a Rs23 Billion ($82,685,321) grant to Azad Kashmir, which led to subsidized utility rates and wheat prices being announced on May 13, by the Prime Minister of AJK, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq.[18] On May 14, the JAAC called off the protests, announcing a ‘historic win’ as the government agreed to all demands.[1]
^Cite error: The named reference Dawn 10 May was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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Qaiser Khan, Azad Kashmir's Now or Never Movement, The Friday Times, 12 May 2024. "But what remains at the heart of it all is the public's anger over the loot and plunder of the region's resources and the enabling character of AJK's political leadership towards this exploitation."
