AJK bans JAAC after protest calls

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Friday banned the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC) under anti-terrorism laws as the state administration moved to tighten security ahead of a planned protest call on June 9.

AJK’s Ministry of Home Affairs issued a formal notification placing JK-JAAC under the First Schedule of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014, effectively banning its operations along with all associated nomenclatures upon presidential approval.

“The AJ&K government has reasonable grounds to believe that the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC), also known by the names Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and Awami Action Committee (AAC), is involved in terrorism,” the release said.

It further alleged that the organization had acted “in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the state” and had been “involved in creating anarchy in the state by intimidating the public, promoting hatred and creating a sense of insecurity in the community and public at large”.

Officials said the decision followed an assessment of material deemed sufficient to indicate activities prejudicial to law and order. Citing section 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2014, the announcement confirmed the group’s formal inclusion in the First Schedule, with all alternative names covered by the ban.

The interior ministry said legal action would follow in accordance with the law, while copies of the notice were circulated to all the relevant authorities in Islamabad, Muzaffarabad as well as Poonch and Mirpur divisions of the state.

Authorities reiterated that maintaining public order remained a priority, stating that no organization would be allowed to “endanger public peace, security or the administrative order of the state” as enforcement measures are implemented across the region.

Against this backdrop, the AJK government has also sought reinforcement of 14,000 additional law enforcement personnel from federal and provincial agencies ahead of the June 9 protest call, while issuing a travel advisory to visitors.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary and Home Minister, AJK Inspector General of Police Captain (retd) Liaquat Malik said JK-JAAC had announced protests and a long march that required manpower in addition to the existing district-level deployment.

The request includes 6,000 personnel from Frontier Constabulary, 5,000 from Pakistan Rangers, 2,000 from Islamabad Police and 1,000 from Sindh Police. The letter states that 60% of deployed personnel will be equipped with anti-riot equipment, including tear gas guns and grenades, while 40% will remain armed, with deployment for 15 days from June 7 to June 21.

Subsequently, more than 650 Islamabad police personnel were called to police headquarters under emergency arrangements in an initial phase of the deployment, with officials asking them to report in plainclothes.

The AJK government also advised tourists and outsiders to avoid traveling to the region and urged visitors already present to leave immediately ahead of the protest period. The advisory will remain in effect from June 5 to June 20 and authorities say it is intended to “save visitors from any unexpected situation or inconvenience”.

Meanwhile, political and administrative authorities in AJK have expressed reservations about the protest call, stating that most of the committee’s demands have already been addressed through institutional mechanisms.

Officials said 35 out of 38 demands raised by the committee had been accepted or implemented, while progress continued on the remaining issues through established forums, including a monitoring and implementation committee and an independent expert committee set up to discuss sensitive constitutional issues.

The government said it had pursued negotiations and relief measures, including compensation payments to affected families, subsidies on wheat, reduction of property taxes, open merit in education and recruitment, and adjustments in the administrative structure and financial reforms.

It further stated that certain demands regarding taxation, revenue systems, refugee seats and official privileges required constitutional and legal processes rather than street agitation, adding that these issues were already under structured consultation.

The authorities accused the committee of rigidity and warned that any attempt to disrupt the electoral process on 9 June would be treated as an attack on democratic norms, especially as the date coincides with the start of nomination applications for the general election on 27 July.

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also rejected the action committee’s demand for abolition of 12 seats reserved for Pakistani Kashmiris in the AJK Legislative Assembly, calling it an attempt to undermine the electoral process ahead of the polls. In a post on X, he said that raising such a demand before the election was tantamount to sabotaging the democratic framework.

Observers and officials further argued that the committee’s continued boycott of institutional dialogue and implementation forums had heightened tensions, noting that its refusal to engage with designated committees had hindered settlement efforts.

They said the monitoring and implementation committee had remained active in reviewing agreed terms, while an expert panel on refugee places had been set up for legal consideration, but participation from the action committee had been inconsistent.

Authorities argued that turning away from formal mechanisms while calling for a strike in the wake of the opening day of the nomination process risked obstructing candidates and disrupting administrative functions at a critical election stage.

With enforcement measures now being rolled out alongside heightened security arrangements, the AJK administration has reiterated that maintaining law and order, protecting public movement and ensuring the continuation of election activity remain its key priorities in the days leading up to June 9.

(WITH ACCESS FROM APP)