Repeal of Protest Restrictions in Pakistan-administered Kashmir

The government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has repealed a controversial ordinance that restricted public gatherings following widespread protests and a four-day wheel-jam strike, Al Jazeera reported yesterday. The Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance 2024, introduced last month, faced significant backlash for suppressing dissent.

Thousands protested across the region, blocking major entry points, including Muzaffarabad. Negotiations between the government and the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) led to the ordinance’s withdrawal. Information Minister Pir Muhammad Mazhar Saeed Shah confirmed the government’s commitment to allowing peaceful protests.

The JKJAAC, which has called for a major long march in January 2025 to address unmet demands for subsidized essentials and improved financial integration, expressed satisfaction with the negotiations. The ordinance’s repeal marks a significant victory for civil society amid ongoing tensions regarding governance and public rights in the region.