After days of violent unrest in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, the federal government and protestors on Saturday signed an agreement to end demonstrations that had left at least 10 people dead and hundreds injured.

The unrest began on September 29, when talks between officials and leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a representative body of protestors, broke down.

The protestors had issued a 38-point charter, urging authorities to meet their demands. When the government did not act, they took to the streets, which led to clashes with police. At least 10 people, including three police personnel, were killed, and hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officers were injured.

As the situation intensified, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sent a high-level delegation to Muzaffarabad on Wednesday to negotiate a solution.

The team, led by former premier Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, held detailed discussions for two consecutive days, which concluded around midnight. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on social media that an agreement had been reached.

“Negotiating delegation has signed the final agreement with the Action Committee.... The protesters are returning to their homes. All roads have been reopened. This is a victory for peace,” he posted on X.

A copy of the agreement shared by Chaudhry showed a detailed 25-point plan to end the protests. It included compensation for those killed, and registering terrorism cases for incidents of violence and vandalism that resulted in deaths of both police personnel and protestors.

The federal government also agreed to establish two additional intermediate and secondary educational boards for the Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions in PoJK.

It was decided that the local government would release funds within 15 days for the implementation of health cards to provide free treatment for patients. MRI and CT scan machines will also be provided, in phases, at each district of PoJK by the federal government.

The federal government will allocate PKR 10 billion to improve the electricity system in PoJK.

The size of the PoJK cabinet will be reduced to 20 ministers and advisors, and administrative secretaries will not exceed 20 at any time. Some departments will be merged to make the government leaner and more efficient.

The government of Pakistan will also conduct a feasibility study for the construction of two tunnels on the Neelum Valley road at Kahori/Kamser (3.7 KM) and Chaplani (0.6 KM).

A high-powered committee of legal and constitutional experts will be formed to review the status of members of the PoK Assembly.

Plans were also made for constructing an international airport at Mirpur.

It was agreed that property transfer taxes will be aligned with those in Punjab or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within three months.

A monitoring and implementation committee will oversee the enforcement of the agreement and ensure all points are executed.

Friday marked the fifth consecutive day of a shutdown, with public transport largely paralysed. Only motorcycles and a few private vehicles were seen on some roads. The communications blackout imposed on Sunday continued, fuelling frustration among residents.