Srinagar, June 30, KNT: In a significant political development, Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone, Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) leader Hakeem Yasin, and the Justice Department Front (JDF), a faction linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, on Sunday announced the formation of a new political coalition titled Peoples Alliance for Change (PAC).
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Lone described the alliance as a “viable alternative” for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the formation of PAC marks a “historic unity” aimed at scripting a new direction for the region.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have endured decades of suffering. We are committed to driving a change that is rooted in hope, transformation, and accountability,” Lone said.
The alliance’s founding declaration emphasized its commitment to the restoration of Article 370, Article 35-A, and statehood, asserting that it would pursue these objectives through all political and constitutional means.
“In order to set in motion a process that scripts a pathway to change, the JKPC, PDF, and JDF have come together in a spirit of togetherness, despite our ideological differences, to create a Declaration for Change,” the statement read.
The PAC leaders also took a strong stand against the existing reservation system in Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a tool of regional discrimination. The alliance alleged that recruitment lists consistently favour the Jammu region, marginalizing Kashmiris in government employment.
“Up to 90 percent of jobs go to the Jammu region. This is a regional issue, and no other traditional party has dared to speak up. By ignoring this blatant disparity, they have become accomplices in this injustice,” the declaration said, adding that JKPC and JDF have united in raising their voice against this systemic bias.
The alliance urged the people of Kashmir to treat this as a wake-up call, noting that silence on such critical issues is tantamount to betrayal. The leaders pledged to work collectively, bridging ideological divides for the larger goal of empowering the people of Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]
