MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore Saturday said the government will no longer hold talks with those who spread chaos under the guise of politics.
His statement came a day after the AJK government declared the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation under the anti-terrorism laws ahead of the group’s planned protest on June 9.
Without naming anyone, PM Rathore said the elements involved in sit-ins, arson and riots are supporters of the banned TTP.
The AJK premier further said that he was a witness to all the negotiations held with the now-banned JAAC in the past. “The non-political and non-parliamentary group refused to come to the negotiating table despite repeated efforts,” he added.
Citing the JAAC leaders’ statement, the AJK PM said that “they will not back down from attacking the state”. The state gives the right to peaceful protest, but blackmailing will never be allowed, he added.
Meanwhile, at least 72 members of the banned JAAC were arrested in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, said a spokesperson for the Inspector General (IG) of Police earlier Saturday.
The spokesperson said weapons, communication devices and suspicious documents were recovered from the possession of detained suspects. A day earlier, the AJK government’s Home Department issued a notification, placing JAAC in the First Schedule. “Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC), also known by names Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and Awami Action Committee (AAC), is engaged in terrorism, acting in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the state, involved in creating anarchy in the state by intimidating the public, promoting hatred and creating a sense of insecurity in society and the public at large,” the notification stated.
It further read that in exercise of powers conferred under Section 12 of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014, the AJK president has accorded approval to list JK-JAAC, also known as Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and Awami Action Committee (AAC), in the First Schedule of ATA 2014 as a proscribed organisation for the purposes of the said Act.
The JAAC has previously organised large-scale protests over economic issues and political rights, some of which turned violent and resulted in fatalities during clashes with law enforcement in May 2024 and September 2025.
Its latest protest campaign focuses on a demand to abolish the 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who migrated to Pakistan after 1947.
AJK PM Rathore said his government had sought a week’s time for the abolishment of refugee seats, but the JAAC did not agree.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday concluded the hearing of Presidential Reference concerning the reserved refugee seats in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly and subsequently reserved its opinion.
A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram and comprising Justice Khalid Yousaf Chaudhry, heard the case. Justice Raza Ali Khan recused himself from the proceedings due to his prior appearance as counsel in related matters.
During the proceedings, the apex court heard detailed arguments from judicial assistants, senior lawyers and various parties on the constitutional and legal questions raised in the Presidential Reference. Raja Sajjad Ahmed Khan, Advocate, argued that under Article 33 of the Constitution, the Legislative Assembly possesses full authority to enact laws. He noted that members of the assembly had already expressed their opinions on the refugee seats issue during the All Parties Conference and maintained that the matter should have been referred to a high-powered committee.
References to negotiations between the Federal Committee and the Joint Public Action Committee were also presented before the court. Barrister Humayun Nawaz, Raja Sadaqat Hussain and Sardar Abdul Razzaq also presented legal arguments on various constitutional points.
The court examined the key constitutional question whether the 12 reserved refugee seats in the Legislative Assembly could be abolished or altered without a constitutional amendment. Detailed debate also took place regarding the powers and limitations of the current Legislative Assembly to amend the Constitution.
The bench further sought opinions on the legal status of attempts to halt elections or exert pressure for constitutional amendments.
Former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan and Member of the Legislative Assembly Abdul Majid Khan were present in the courtroom. President of the AJK Supreme Court Bar Raja Aftab, President of the Central Bar Raja Zegham Iftikhar and President of the High Court Bar Raja Jahangir Aslam also appeared before the court along with other senior lawyers.
Former additional secretary Farhat Ali Mir, Khawaja Manzoor Qadir and Tanveer Chaudhry Advocate also presented their viewpoints before the bench.
During the hearing, representatives of refugees settled in Azad Kashmir since 1989 demanded a separate reserved seat in the assembly for their representation.
After the completion of arguments from all parties, the division bench reserved its opinion and directed that the AJK president be formally informed of the court’s constitutional opinion.
The case concerning the constitutional status of the 12 reserved refugee seats has now entered a decisive legal stage, with the AJK Supreme Court expected to formally convey its opinion to the president.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed concern and disappointment over the AJK government’s sudden decision to declare the JAAC a proscribed entity.
In a statement, the PTI also aired deep concern over the tragic violence in Rawalakot, where reportedly one innocent life was lost and several others sustained injuries.
“PTI strongly believes that political, social and constitutional grievances must be addressed through democratic engagement, meaningful dialogue and constitutional means, not through bans, coercion or the use of force,” the party emphasised.
The PTI argued that if the JAAC was truly a terrorist organisation, then why did the government spend months negotiating with it, signing agreements with it, implementing its demands, holding meetings with its leadership and treating it as a legitimate stakeholder until Friday.
It was noted that the strike call was given by the JAAC following the violation of an agreement between the government and the committee. The party pointed out that the JAAC comprises representatives from all parties and civil society, and that it was formed following the worst kind of governance by the PPP and PMLN administrations.
The party claimed that this is the same failed model that has been used against the PTI: suppress peaceful protest, block roads, suspend communication, intimidate citizens and then call every democratic demand a threat to the state. The PTI insisted that it has consistently maintained that political questions must be answered through dialogue, constitutional process and public mandate — not through bans, containers, arrests, internet shutdowns and the misuse of anti-terrorism laws, the statement said.
It was stressed that the AJK people have legitimate constitutional, democratic, social and economic concerns. “If there is a dispute over refugee seats, electoral representation, or the powers of the Legislative Assembly, then the answer lies in open debate, judicial review and political engagement — instead of declaring citizens’ platforms as terrorist organisations,” the statement underlined.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the District Bar Association was held under the chairmanship of District Bar President Babar Ali Khan. The meeting was attended by representatives of civil society, traders, lawyers, journalists and members of different schools of thought. Participants held detailed discussions on the current situation regarding the refugee seats issue and the government’s actions against the banned Joint Public Action Committee.
Addressing the meeting, President District Bar Association Mirpur Babar Ali Khan said that major conflicts around the world have ultimately been resolved through dialogue and negotiations. He stated that the issue of refugee seats is a legal matter and that the government should have waited for the decision on the reference filed in the Supreme Court.
He said that filing a constitutional reference on the one hand and declaring the Joint Public Action Committee a terrorist organisation on the other were contradictory actions. He demanded that the decision to ban the Joint Public Action Committee be withdrawn, arrested lawyers and committee members be released immediately and internet services be restored.
He also announced that the District Bar was ready to play the role of a bridge between the government and the banned Joint Public Action Committee for negotiations. He further expressed support for the strike call announced by the Azad Kashmir Bar Council for Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, former president Chamber of Commerce Faisal Manzoor stressed avoiding tension and resolving the legitimate demands of the banned Joint Public Action Committee through dialogue. Former District Bar President Mirza Qamar said that even international disputes had eventually been resolved through negotiations and urged the government to withdraw the ban on the committee and release the arrested individuals.
President Anjuman Tajran Ittehad Group Chaudhry Mahmood said all stakeholders should sit together to find a solution and avoid giving India an opportunity to exploit internal matters for propaganda. He urged the banned Joint Public Action Committee to exercise patience and move forward through negotiations.
Senior journalist Zafar Mughal questioned if the Public Action Committee was considered a terrorist organisation, why negotiations had previously been held with it and its demands accepted. He described the role of prime minister of Pakistan as important in resolving the matter.
High Court Bar General Secretary Rashid Rashid condemned the arrests and said the government should avoid the policy of crackdowns, while Bar Council member Waseem Younis demanded the release of detainees and announced that the Bar Council would observe a strike on Monday.
Meanwhile, Adviser to PM on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah while talking in Geo News programme, ‘Naya Pakistan’ said that the Joint Action Committee’s (JAC) demands in the past were accepted by the government because those were meant for people’s welfare but their modus operandi was unconstitutional and unlawful. But this time, the demands involved amendment to the constitution. The JAAC leaders were asked to take the legal course to get these issues solved through referendum or take them to the relevant forum.
He accused the Action Committee of receiving foreign funding and argued against the committee’s demands of eliminating refugee seats, stating it would damage the Kashmir cause. He addressed the topic of new administrative systems and potential constitutional amendments, reiterating that the federal government is focused on achieving legislative consensus and stabilising the country.
