Government
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is a self-governing state under Pakistani control but is not constitutionally part of Pakistan. It has its own elected president, prime minister, legislature, high court, and official flag. The government of Pakistan has not yet allowed the state to issue its own postage stamps, however, and Pakistani stamps are used in the state instead. Azad Kashmir has it own Judiciary as well with Khawaja Shahad Ahmad as its present Chief Justice.
Azad Kashmir's financial matters, i.e., budget and tax affairs, are dealt with by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, rather than by Pakistan's Central Board of Revenue. The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council is a supreme body consisting of 11 members, six from the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and five from the government of Pakistan. Its chairman/chief executive is the president of Pakistan. Other members of the council are the president and the prime minister of Azad Kashmir and a few other AJK ministers.
The human rights of the inhabitants of Azad Kashmir has been the subject of controversy. Brad Adams, the Asia director at Human Rights Watch said in 2006, "Although ‘azad’ means ‘free,’ the residents of Azad Kashmir are anything but, The Pakistani authorities govern Azad Kashmir with strict controls on basic freedoms."
The state is administratively divided into three divisions which, in turn, are divided into ten districts.
| Division | District | Area (km²) | Population (1998) | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirpur | Bhimber | 1,516 | 301,633 | Bhimber |
| Kotli | 1,862 | 563,094 | Kotli | |
| Mirpur | 1,010 | 333,482 | Mirpur | |
| Muzaffarabad | Muzaffarabad | 2,496 | 638,973 | Muzaffarabad |
| Hattian | ? | ? | Hattian Bala | |
| Neelum | 3,621 | 106,778 | Athmuqam | |
| Poonch | Poonch | 855 | 411,035 | Rawalakot |
| Haveli | 600 (est.) | 150,000 (est.) | Forward Kahuta | |
| Bagh | 768 | 243,415 | Bagh | |
| Sudhnati | 569 | 334,091 | Pallandari | |
| AJK Total | 10 districts | 13,297 | 2,972,501 | Muzaffarabad |
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