Governance Challenges and Public Response in Azad Jammu & Kashmir: An Analytical Study of Charter of Demands of Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)

Abstract

This research examines the main governance challenges in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and the subsequent emergence of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) as a pivotal voice for socio-economic reforms. Centered on three fundamental research questions, the study explores the specific nature of governance challenges ranging from limited autonomy to perks and privileges of ruling elite. By analyzing the charter of demands of JAAC the paper highlights a significant shift in public discourse from passive grievance to organized civic resistance. The findings reveal that persistent administrative inertia and widening trust deficit have culminated this movement. Furthermore, the research argues that ignoring such peaceful and grassroots poses a strategic risk and the total erosion of the social contract between the state and its public. The article concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for structural reforms and inclusive policy making as the only sustainable path toward effective governance in AJ&K.