MUZAFFARABAD/LONDON: The government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Home Department) has placed 150 members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) on the Fourth Schedule through ten separate notifications, says a press release.
This action has been taken under Section 16(1) of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act.
Among those listed are the four top ringleaders of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee including Shoukat Nawaz Mir, Raja Amjad Ali Khan, Anjum Zaman Awan and Raja Sohaib Javed, as well as members against whom substantial evidence of involvement in violent activities exists.
Meanwhile, it is learnt the Pakistani government will take action against UK-based activists who are campaigning in support of the banned JAAC against Pakistan, its institutions and officials.
Trusted source told Geo News that dozens of activists who have “incited” people against Pakistan’s institutions and government officials will face severe sanctions including blockage of Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), passport, Exit Control List (ECL) placement and seizure of assets.
The issue has gained attention after several activists in the United Kingdom were seen raising controversial slogans during Azad Kashmir-related protests currently taking place over demands raised by the banned organisation.
After the AJK government’s refusal to accede to the banned organisation’s demands and the crackdown on its key leaders, several protests have taken place in parts of the UK. On Sunday, protests were organised in London, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford and some other parts of the UK.
The situation has comparisons with the action previously announced by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi after PTI protesters targeted former Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and the vehicle of the Pakistan High Commissioner in London. Over a dozen PTI activists at that time were sanctioned when the interior minister had ordered NADRA to identify those involved through video footage and then their Pakistani CNICs and passports were revoked.
The official told Geo News that similar action will be taken against individuals in the UK who are allegedly threatening officials in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan, inciting violence, or using protest platforms to raise slogans against Pakistani security institutions.
“No action will be taken against the vast majority of Kashmiris who are protesting in a peaceful manner. Protest is a democratic right in the UK, Pakistan and Azad Kashmir but threats of violence, intimidation of officials, attacks on Pakistan’s institutions, and slogans calling for Pakistan’s forces to leave Azad Kashmir cross the line from legitimate protest into hostile campaigning. This is a hostile agenda. Those doing so will be taken to task. They will be identified and held accountable,” said the official.
The official said the govt is aware that PTI supporters and some hard-line nationalists have clearly attempted to advance their own political agenda through these protests, adding “These elements have used the name of Kashmir to fulfil their own designs.”
A spokesman of the “Friends of Joint Awami Action Committee” in the UK said it distances itself from those elements who have their own agenda. He recognised that some people had harmed the cause by using foul and extremist language and by spreading false information. He said: “Over 99% people attending our marches are ordinary people demanding rights for their relatives in Azad Kashmir but some extremists have tried to hijack the cause. Its due to this reason that we didn’t allow any stage to be set for speeches on Sunday march. We ensured that our platform is not used to make violent calls.”
