13th amendment and the politics of power Sharing in AJK

Abstract

Azad Kashmir referring to Pakistan's administered Kashmir over the course of decades had remained under ad-hoc and arbitrary power-sharing settlements. The most significant landmark in this regard is the Act of 1974 that provided the legal framework for the government of AJK consequently defining the nature of its relationship with Pakistan. This act has recently been amended in 2018 with the introduction of the 13th amendment that claims to have recovered the ceded authority of AJK government. This study focuses on the qualitative analysis of the l3th amendment with a fundamental question whether this amendment has empowered the government set up in AJK or usurped them in favor of Islamabad resultantly leading to more disempowerment? The study shall also significantly discuss the historical pretext of the constitutional arrangements in Azad Kashmir and will propose a way forward towards a sustainable power-sharing formula between AJK and Islamabad, Pakistan. Key Words: 13th Amendment, 1974 Act, PMLN, PPP, KLA, AJK, Kashmir Council