The shutdown affected major urban centers, including the regional capital Muzaffarabad, where residents reported largely deserted markets, closed shops and inactive transport hubs. Similar conditions were reported in other towns across the territory.The strike followed violent confrontations on Sunday in the city of Rawalakot between JAAC supporters and security personnel.

According to authorities, seven people were killed in the unrest, marking one of the deadliest episodes of political violence in the region in recent years.The clashes erupted after the Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir ruled that 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a formal constitutional amendment.

The JAAC, an alliance established in 2003, has campaigned for expanded political rights for residents of the territory and has long demanded the elimination of the refugee seats. The group argues that the arrangement grants disproportionate political influence to individuals who do not live within the territory.

Residents told local media that public participation in Tuesday’s strike was difficult to assess, with some people appearing to support the shutdown while others remained indoors due to concerns over potential violence.Prior to Sunday’s clashes, the JAAC had announced plans for a strike and a long march from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad.

Witnesses said thousands of supporters gathered in the eastern city of Mirpur on Tuesday in preparation for the planned mobilization.Authorities responded by deploying additional police and security personnel throughout the region.

Internet services were also suspended in several major cities in an effort to limit mobilization and prevent further unrest.Police and regional government officials accused armed JAAC supporters of opening fire on security forces during Sunday’s violence. The organization has not publicly responded to those allegations in the information provided.

The regional government formally banned the JAAC last week, citing concerns over public order and security. Dozens of supporters have since been detained as part of the crackdown.Regional Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said his administration remains willing to engage in dialogue with representatives of the movement.

He stated that most of the group’s demands had been addressed during negotiations held last year, with the exception of issues relating to refugee seats and certain benefits provided to government officials and ministers.According to Rathore, those unresolved matters require legislative action because of constitutional limitations.

The refugee seats are allocated to individuals and families who migrated to Pakistan from Indian-administered Kashmir following decades of conflict over the disputed Himalayan territory. The arrangement was designed to provide representation for displaced communities affected by the region’s long-running political dispute.

Kashmir remains divided between Pakistan and India, both of which claim the territory in full. The dispute has been a central source of tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbors since their independence in 1947 and has led to multiple wars and recurring periods of instability.

Political tensions in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have intensified ahead of elections scheduled for next month, with debate over refugee representation emerging as a major issue following the recent court ruling and subsequent unrest.

The amendment, backed by 57 of the 60 lawmakers in the Legislative Assembly dominated by Bukele’s ruling party, transfers full authority for appointing the five magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Court to Congress.

Under the previous system, three magistrates were nominated by the political parties that received the most votes in the last election, while the remaining two were chosen by the Supreme Court of Justice.The new rules remove that structure, giving the Legislative Assembly sole power over the appointments.

Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro defended the reform, saying it would eliminate partisan influence over the electoral authority.“No more party quotas.

No more personal agendas or interests in the highest electoral authority,” Castro wrote on X.Opposition groups and civil society organizations criticized the measure, arguing it would allow Bukele’s government to consolidate control over the body responsible for overseeing elections.

Non-governmental organization Accion Ciudadana said the changes were “designed so that the ruling party can fully control the electoral body.”Bukele, 44, has governed El Salvador since 2019 and won re-election in 2024 with 85% of the vote.

His administration has maintained exceptionally high approval ratings, largely driven by an aggressive anti-gang security strategy, but has also faced growing criticism from rights groups and opposition leaders over institutional weakening and concentration of power.Since taking office, Bukele’s government has overseen multiple constitutional reforms, including last year’s abolition of presidential term limits, clearing the path for him to run again in elections scheduled for February 2027.

Critics have described the country’s political direction as increasingly authoritarian, while Bukele has defended the changes as necessary to modernize governance and deliver security and stability.The five current magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Court were appointed in 2024 for five-year terms and are expected to oversee the upcoming general elections.

The latest reform adds to broader debate over democratic checks and balances in El Salvador as Bukele continues to tighten control over the judiciary, legislature and electoral institutions.