Pakistan-Administered Kashmir: Ruling PML-N Seeks Dialogue With Protesters Amid Violence

As the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) prepares to form a government in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the party appears to be shifting its approach toward a protest movement that has rattled the region for months. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's adviser, Rana Sanaullah, said on Saturday that 99 per cent of the protesters are "patriotic" and that party representatives will soon meet members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition of activists spearheading the demonstrations.

The statement marks a notable change in tone. Until recently, PML-N leaders had accused the banned militant group Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of infiltrating the protest ranks, using that to justify a security crackdown. Sanaullah's remarks, made at an election rally ahead of the final phase of polling, suggest an attempt to de-escalate tensions and open dialogue.

The region, known officially as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, is administered by Pakistan but claimed by India as an integral part of its Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi has consistently described Pakistan's control as "illegal occupation." The dispute has been a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbours for decades.

The protests began more than two months ago, led by the JAAC, which includes students, traders, transporters, lawyers, and social workers. The group was banned by the regional government in June. Its main demand is the abolition of 12 disputed "refugee seats" in the legislative assembly, which the JAAC claims are manipulated by the establishment to install a preferred prime minister in the region.

In the first two phases of the three-phase elections, which began on July 27, the PML-N secured 25 of the 45 elected seats, a working majority. The main opposition was the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which is also a coalition partner in the federal government. Allegations of massive rigging and violence have accompanied the polling, with the JAAC claiming that more than 40 people, including women and children, were killed since the elections began, and 400 deaths since early June. The Pakistani government denies any civilian deaths and dismisses the figures as "overly exaggerated."

Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have called for independent investigations into reports of violence. On August 7, the United Nations expressed concern over the security situation, stressing the need for accountability for actions against peaceful protesters.

The final phase of voting is scheduled for Monday on four seats, while elections in seven constituencies have been indefinitely postponed. Sanaullah said that when the PML-N government is formed with a two-thirds majority, its first task will be to resolve the issue through dialogue with the JAAC representatives.

The evolving situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir reflects broader political fissures within Pakistan and the contested nature of the region's status. While the PML-N seeks to stabilise control, the protests and allegations of rigging cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the electoral process. The international community's focus on accountability and human rights is likely to keep scrutiny on both the government's actions and the unresolved Kashmir dispute.