AJK Police Chief Warns Against AI Disinformation and Denies Transport Blockades

MUZAFFARABAD: The Inspector General of Police for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Captain (retd) Liaqat Ali Malik, has cautioned citizens both locally and abroad against the spread of disinformation and AI-generated content. During a press conference on Thursday, the IGP urged the public to rely exclusively on official sources, describing the current information landscape as an environment of “hybrid warfare.”

Addressing reports of transit restrictions, IGP Malik asserted that all entry points into AJK remain open to all traffic, including vehicles transporting essential commodities. He specifically called upon the Kashmiri diaspora in the United Kingdom and Europe to verify news through authentic government media and official social media platforms.

“All major entry points into the territory, including Kohala, Azad Pattan, and Bararkot, are open for all types of traffic without any intervention, aside from routine security checks conducted under police protocols,” Malik stated.

The IGP alleged that activists from the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had illegally erected barriers at various locations and targeted goods-laden trucks. He added that law enforcement agencies are actively clearing these roads to ensure the smooth movement of commuters.

Regarding a recent report by BBC Urdu, Malik claimed the piece relied on unverified allegations and was published without incorporating the government’s perspective, despite available official channels. “We can say that this article is far away from reality,” he remarked.

The IGP noted that both he and Chief Secretary Khushal Khan had previously clarified on June 23 that police were not obstructing public transport or essential goods. He highlighted that the government’s official position has been disseminated via the Public Information Department’s fact-checking platform on X (formerly Twitter).

Furthermore, Malik urged media outlets to coordinate with the police public relations office before broadcasting reports and to avoid airing unverified videos from anonymous social media accounts.

These statements follow a mixed response to a strike called by the proscribed JAAC, during which the government ordered the suspension of internet services and the closure of most petrol stations. While life remained largely normal in the Mirpur division, partial shutdowns were observed in the Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.

In Muzaffarabad, long queues formed at the few authorized petrol stations, where residents waited with plastic bottles and cans to secure limited fuel for motorcycles and generators.

Simultaneously, the government has intensified disciplinary actions against state employees accused of supporting the proscribed outfit’s sit-ins. Official notifications reveal the suspension of three electricity department employees, eight teachers, a laboratory assistant, two peons from the education department, and two medical college staff members for violating government service rules.

Official sources emphasized that the state remains determined to act against those challenging its writ, warning that further actions, including dismissals, may follow.

Late Thursday, the JAAC announced it would maintain its protest campaign through peaceful sit-ins, dismissing rumors of an impending long march.

The JAAC Ban

Prior to the July 27 elections in AJK, the JAAC launched widespread protests demanding the abolition of 12 Legislative Assembly seats reserved for refugees from occupied Kashmir residing in mainland Pakistan. These seats have historically been a point of contention due to disputes over constitutional amendments, delimitation, and voter registration.

On June 5, the regional government declared the JAAC a proscribed organization, placing it under the First Schedule of the region’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). This was followed by a crackdown in which numerous leaders were arrested and 147 activists were placed on the ATA’s Fourth Schedule.

Source link