MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has rescinded a controversial presidential ordinance banning peaceful protests, following successful negotiations with the Joint Public Action Committee (JAAC)
The withdrawal comes after a region-wide strike on December 5, during which educational institutions, shops, and transport services were shut down in response to the ordinance. This ordinance had introduced a seven-year jail term for individuals participating in protests, sparking widespread backlash.
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Civil society groups and JAAC criticized the law, arguing it violated constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, creating tension between public order enforcement and civil liberties in the region. Earlier, the AJK Supreme Court suspended the ordinance while admitting appeals challenging its legality.
The protests against the ordinance also occurred alongside demonstrations against inflation, which concluded after the government met JAAC’s demands in May. Violent clashes during these movements resulted in casualties and injuries, further intensifying public opposition to the ordinance.
