JAAC’s decision to stay away from the electoral process, coupled with its apparent attempt to undermine it, raises a fundamental question about the Committee’s character. Does this suggest that it is neither democratic in temperament nor committed to the democratic process? Has it abandoned faith in democratic politics altogether? If so, is its objective no longer the pursuit of public rights through constitutional means, but rather to sow hatred, division, and discord within society?There should be no disagreement over the rights of the people of Azad Kashmir. Those rights deserve to be protected and upheld. The real question, however, is whether the methods currently being employed in Kashmir are the right ones.The Kashmir Action Committee had put forward 38 demands, and it is being claimed that 35 of them have already been accepted. The question, then, is whether there is any justification for continuing strikes and creating an atmosphere of unrest after the acceptance of such a substantial number of demands.Electricity in Azad Kashmir costs between Rs. 3 and Rs. 7 per unit. In the rest of Pakistan, electricity tariffs have risen to levels that have left ordinary people reeling. Some are burdened by exorbitant electricity bills, while others are struggling with a solar policy that has become a source of constant frustration. Yet electricity in Azad Kashmir remains available at just Rs. 3 to Rs. 7 per unit, and despite this, protests continue.The story of Azad Kashmir’s finances is equally revealing. The region’s own annual revenue stands at around Rs. 60 billion, yet its annual budget exceeds Rs. 300 billion. One must therefore ask: where does the additional Rs. 240 billion come from? It is provided by the federal government. The demand to abolish taxes may sound appealing, but one must also explain how the budget would then be financed and how public-sector salaries would be paid. It is being said that if taxes were abolished, Azad Kashmir’s own annual revenue would fall to just Rs. 15 billion, while its annual expenditure would still exceed Rs. 300 billion.There is, of course, a legitimate case for reducing government expenditure and downsizing the oversized cabinet and administrative structure. Indeed, some progress has already been made. Government........

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