Tensions escalated in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday as authorities cracked down on protests linked to the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Clashes erupted between law enforcers and JAAC supporters attempting to converge on Muzaffarabad for a long march, resulting in injuries to multiple participants, including two police officers. Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore urged stakeholders to abandon violence and resume negotiations, warning that “political activists without reasoning skills cause harm to society.”
The AJK government ordered sedition charges against JAAC leaders Shaukat Nawaz Mir (Muzaffarabad) and Mehran Khawaja (Mirpur), accusing them of inciting rebellion through speeches and materials. The Home Department directed senior superintendents of police to investigate and file charge-sheets under Section 196 of the CrPC.
A Rs10 million reward was announced for arrests of four JAAC figures, including Mir and Khawaja. Authorities also detained five suspects in intelligence operations, seizing weapons and communication devices allegedly linked to foreign intelligence agencies. One detainee’s interrogation revealed evidence of ties to hostile entities, prompting raids across the region.
Protests originated in Mirpur district, where hundreds gathered near Quaid-i-Azam Stadium before marching toward Kotli. Clashes in Pind Sabharwal left two officers wounded, while unverified reports suggest higher casualties in Kotli, including a doctor killed by a stray bullet. Internet and mobile data shutdowns complicate real-time updates, though banks and businesses remained closed under the shutter-down strike.
In Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, authorities deployed riot police despite calm conditions. Meanwhile, the AJK Bar Council boycotted judiciary proceedings to protest the arrest of lawyer Amjad Ali Khan, a JAAC member.
Rights groups condemn crackdown
Amnesty International criticized the government’s response, citing arbitrary arrests, deadly force, and internet restrictions. The group urged de-escalation steps to protect civilians. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan echoed these concerns, highlighting losses on both sides.
