Far less attention has been paid to the political currents unfolding across the LoC in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, officially known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Rather than rehashing the old geopolitical tug-of-war with India, this new wave of unrest reflects deep-seated frustration with local governance. Supporters maintain that these 12 seats safeguard the political rights of displaced families and uphold Islamabad’s diplomatic argument that the entire former princely state remains disputed internationally. “These 12 seats continuously dictate government formation,” political activist Raja Nafees, who supports JAAC's demands, told MEE. At the same time, the nationalist slogan “Kashmir Banega Khudmukhtar” (Kashmir will be sovereign), promoted by groups like the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), has gained unprecedented public traction in the protests.