MIRPUR: Police in Mirpur district have intensified their crackdown against individuals involved in activities deemed harmful to public peace and order, resulting in the arrest of eight suspects reportedly linked to a banned organisation.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mirpur, Khurram Iqbal, the operation was carried out as part of ongoing efforts to maintain law and order and uphold the rule of law across the district. Among those arrested are two brothers of Saad Ansari, a core member of the proscribed Jammu and Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JAAC), police said.
The SSP stated that the arrests were made during targeted raids conducted in different areas based on intelligence reports and available evidence. He emphasised that authorities would not tolerate any activities aimed at disrupting public peace, inciting unrest, or undermining state institutions. “Police are actively pursuing all elements involved in unlawful activities, and investigations into the arrested individuals are under way,” SSP Iqbal said. He added that special police teams have been formed and are conducting raids at various locations to apprehend additional suspects.
Reaffirming the department’s commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the district, the SSP said all available resources were being utilised to ensure public safety. He also urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and promptly report any suspicious activities.
Police officials confirmed that cases are being registered against the detained individuals under relevant legal provisions, while further investigations continue.
Sources indicated that more arrests are expected in the coming days as search and intelligence-based operations remain ongoing across different parts of the district.
Also on Wednesday, internet services remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day in Mirpur due to an ongoing strike called by the banned JAAC, causing widespread disruption to banking operations and other online services across the city.
The prolonged internet outage has severely affected the banking sector, with most banks suspending their routine operations because of connectivity issues. All ATM machines in the city have also remained out of service, leaving residents struggling to access cash.
According to local sources, many citizens have been forced to travel approximately 25 kilometers to the neighboring district of Jhelum to withdraw money and avail themselves of banking facilities.
Meanwhile, the Tehreek Tahaffuz Aiyeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) said that the democratic, political and human rights of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir should be respected and their legitimate demands should be supported.
Referring to Pakistan’s long-standing and principled stance on Kashmir, the opposition movement said that Islamabad always stood for the rights of Kashmiris.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and also chairman of his party, the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, and Chairperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party (JKDP) Nabila Irshad had a telephonic conversation on Wednesday.
According to the opposition alliance’s spokesperson, Akhunzada Hussain, both the leaders had a detailed discussion regarding the current situation in the AJK, public protests and the law & order situation in the region.
The leader of the opposition expressed his resolve that the issue would be raised in parliament and efforts would be made for a peaceful and democratic resolution of the prevailing situation.
JKPD leader Nabila Irshad stressed that political and public issues should be resolved through dialogue, tolerance and democratic means instead of using force. She also urged the opposition leader to raise his voice to immediately discuss the current situation in the AJK in the National Assembly and play an effective role in this regard so that further tension and loss of life can be avoided.
Achakzai expressed concern over the AJK situation, and assured that he would soon raise the issue in the National Assembly.
