Recent deadly clashes between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and Pakistani security forces in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) have driven a unique political contradiction into the spotlight. Despite being under the tight control of Islamabad, PoK features its own Prime Minister, President, Legislative Assembly, Constitution, and flag. However, experts and local protestors argue that these institutions are merely a symbolic marketing gimmick designed to mask Pakistan’s total dominance.
The Historical Tactic
The roots of this setup trace back to October 1947, following the partition of British India. When Pakistan-backed tribal forces invaded Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India, legally making the entire princely state an integral part of India.
Unlike Punjab or Sindh, Pakistan chose never to formally annex PoK as a province. This was a calculated diplomatic manoeuvre. By maintaining PoK’s “disputed” and superficially independent status, Islamabad aimed to keep the broader Kashmir conflict alive internationally without weakening its claim on the rest of the region.
A Sham Structure
While PoK’s governance model is often compared to India’s pre-2019 Article 370, which granted genuine constitutional autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, PoK’s independence exists only on paper.
In reality, the levers of power are heavily manipulated by Pakistan’s civil-military establishment in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Key portfolios like defence, foreign affairs, and communications were surrendered to Pakistan as early as 1949 under the Karachi Agreement. Furthermore, top bureaucratic and administrative positions within PoK are routinely filled by officials dispatched directly from Islamabad.
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The Spark Behind The Protests
The current unrest, led by the JAAC, targets severe economic inflation and electricity tariffs, but it also challenges this fraudulent political structure. A major flashpoint is the Assembly seats reserved for refugees living outside the territory in Pakistan. Locals argue these seats are used by the Pakistani establishment to swing elections and install puppet governments in Muzaffarabad. Additionally, all PoK politicians and judges must take a mandatory oath swearing allegiance to Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, completely silencing alternative political voices.
Ultimately, the bloody crackdowns on local protestors have shattered the illusion of an “Azad” (Free) Kashmir. While the territory maintains the trappings of a sovereign state, the escalating violence proves that the local population knows exactly where the real power lies.
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