AJK Elections: Political Leaders Step Up Engagement as JAAC Gains Influence
PPP and PML-N intensify election outreach in Azad Jammu and Kashmir while efforts continue to ease tensions with the Joint Awami Action Committee.
AJK Elections have entered a crucial phase as Pakistan’s major political parties increase their engagement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where the growing influence of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) continues to shape the political landscape.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari recently visited AJK and met senior political leaders, including Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, to discuss the upcoming elections and the region’s political situation.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Mirpur on Saturday, where he will address a public rally as part of the party’s election campaign.
Political observers believe the visits aim not only to strengthen electoral support but also to establish the two major parties as key stakeholders in AJK politics, where the Joint Awami Action Committee has dominated public discourse in recent months through protests demanding the abolition of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
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Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s visit also coincided with efforts to engage JAAC leaders through informal contacts. On Wednesday, a delegation led by Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Chairman Syed Qamar Raza met JAAC representatives in Rawalakot as part of attempts to reduce political tensions.
Although officials did not release details of the meeting, Qamar Raza confirmed on Thursday that he had contacted JAAC leaders. He described the outreach as a personal initiative aimed at encouraging the group to reject violence and resolve issues through dialogue.
Qamar Raza said that, as chairman of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation, he considers the welfare of overseas Pakistanis a top priority and sought to help ease tensions affecting the region.
The contacts took place after weeks of protests and unrest across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where JAAC has led demonstrations over political and constitutional issues.
Following the meeting, a senior JAAC leader publicly thanked Syed Qamar Raza and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for acknowledging what he described as the legitimate concerns of the people of Kashmir.
The latest political engagements highlight the growing importance of JAAC in AJK’s evolving political environment as parties prepare for the upcoming elections.
