RAWALAKOT/ MUZAFFARABAD/ MIRPUR: Clashes between security forces and supporters of proscribed Jammu and Kashmir Awami Joint Action Committee (JAAC) killed nine people on Tuesday, officials said, a day before the group planned a march against electoral arrangements ahead of regional elections later this month.
The violence stems from a dispute over 12 seats reserved in the AJK Legislative Assembly for refugees.
Poonch Divisional Commissioner Waheed Khan said protesters blocked a security convoy and attacked officials in the Poonch sector. “Police and security officials responded in self-defence,” Khan told Reuters.
Six protesters and one police officer were killed in Tararkhal, while a protester and a security official died in a separate clash in Rawalakot, he said.
According to another report, during a clearance operation in Poonch Division, armed groups belonging to the proscribed JAAC opened fire, resulting in martyrdom of one police officer and injuries to Federal Constabulary personnel.
The banned JAAC has called for a march on Rawalakot on Wednesday. Khan said security forces were prepared to prevent marchers from entering the city.
Around 30 people have been killed in the unrest since June, according to local estimates.
In Rawalakot, after failing to achieve their malicious agenda, armed groups of banned JAAC reportedly opened fire in a civilian area Tuesday morning near Matiyal Mehra Bus Terminal in Rawalakot.
The AJK police said the outlawed organisation, having failed to mobilise public support in recent weeks, resorted to firing in an attempt to shift the blame onto security forces. The incident was captured through aerial surveillance, police said.
When police moved to the area to restore law and order, they came under attack from armed assailants. The Rangers personnel deployed to support police also reached the scene. One Rangers official embraced martyrdom and another sustained injuries in the attack.
The AJK police confirmed explosives were also used during the violence. It said an operation was under way to clear the area of armed JAAC members and protesters, saying local residents had been held hostage at gunpoint.
Police described the day’s events as evidence of banned organisation’s violent conduct.
The authorities have vowed to ensure decisive and strict legal action against all the individuals involved in disturbing law and order and attacking security forces.
According to experts, use of sophisticated weapons and explosive materials by banned JAAC indicates a systematically planned campaign of terrorism. They further said unparalleled sacrifices of security forces demonstrate necessity of establishing and safeguarding the writ of state under all circumstances.
Immediate, strict and impartial legal action against the armed groups involved in attacks on state institutions is the need of hour, they added.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, AJK Interior Secretary Chaudhry Gulfaraz Hussain said that attempts are being made to harm the historical relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir, adding that the actual objective of the proscribed organisation is to fuel an anti-Pakistan narrative. He stated that miscreants in Rawalakot opened indiscriminate fire on innocent citizens without any provocation.
He said that threatening traders and forcibly shutting down markets had become a routine tactic of the proscribed JAAC, and that the politics of intimidation, blackmailing and propaganda was being consistently employed under the guise of protests.
Hussain said that students, women and children were being used as human shields, but the dignified masses had completely rejected the disruptive agenda of the miscreants. He made it clear that the operation would continue until complete clearance of all highways was achieved.
The AJK education secretary also condemned the involvement of innocent children and female students in protest activities and said that educational institution administrations had been directed to keep students away from all forms of protest.
The AJK government on June 5 declared JAAC a proscribed organisation under Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), saying the group was engaged in terrorism.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reached Muzaffarabad on Tuesday to spearhead the party’s election campaign for the upcoming AJK elections. He was received by AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore and other party leaders.
While addressing a meeting of party leaders and workers after reaching Muzaffarabad, the PPP chairman called for dialogue over confrontation, greater constitutional representation for the AJK and meaningful engagement with the aspirations of the region’s youth, warning that political boycotts and extremist approaches would only weaken the democratic process.
Bilawal said the PPP was running a vigorous election campaign across the AJK and pledged to remain in the region until the conclusion of the polls. He said the PPP had always stood with the people of Kashmir and remained committed to safeguarding their political and economic rights.
Referring to ongoing protests in the region, Bilawal urged demonstrators to end their sit-ins and engage in dialogue. “You have set a record by protesting for 30 days. Protests cannot continue forever. Now it is time to end the protest and come to the negotiating table,” he said.
He condemned the decision of political parties that had chosen to boycott the electoral process, arguing that rights could only be secured through participation in democratic institutions. “History teaches us that extremist approaches do not deliver rights. We must achieve our rights while remaining within the system,” he said.
Bilawal observed that although Azad Kashmir carried the word “Azad” in its name, it remained heavily dependent on grants and financial support. He questioned the existing governance structure, asking whether the AJK was accountable to a federal ministry or to its own elected prime minister.
Highlighting the aspirations of the younger generation, Bilawal said political parties needed to address the expectations of AJK’s youth, warning that failure to do so could create space for disruptive forces. “The new generation of Azad Kashmir is not satisfied with the status quo and cannot be expected to live with outdated arrangements,” he said.
Calling for greater constitutional inclusion of the AJK, he proposed interim representation for the territory in the National Assembly, even in an observer capacity. He argued that such representation would allow Kashmiris to present their own perspective on issues affecting them and ensure their voice was heard in national decision-making forums.
He also advocated representation for the AJK in the National Finance Commission (NFC), saying a Kashmiri representative could more effectively articulate the region’s financial needs and concerns.
The PPP chairman proposed convening a constitutional forum after the elections, bringing together all stakeholders on Kashmir-related issues to enable the people of Kashmir to participate directly in decisions concerning their future.
He maintained that the AJK government had fulfilled all demands of protesters to the maximum extent possible within available resources and political consensus. He also rejected what he described as divisive politics, saying he did not want to see “MQM- and Altaf Hussain-style politics” take root in Azad Kashmir.
Bilawal is scheduled to address a series of public gatherings across the AJK and will remain in the region until the state elections. During his stay, he will participate in campaign activities in various districts, engage with party workers and supporters, and present the PPP’s election manifesto to the people of Azad Kashmir, outlining the party’s vision and commitments ahead of the polls.
Earlier on Tuesday, Bilawal met with Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad. The two leaders exchanged views on the overall situation in the country, including matters relating to the AJK. It was the second meeting between Bilawal and Dar in the last 10-days.
Also, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman held a telephonic conversation on Tuesday to discuss the political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with both leaders agreeing to pursue a coordinated strategy to advance the Kashmir cause.
During the discussion, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari proposed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Azad Kashmir to address political issues, promote dialogue among stakeholders and help build a broader political consensus in the region.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the overall situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and emphasized the importance of coordinated political efforts to strengthen advocacy for the Kashmir cause at all levels.
Bilawal and Maulana Fazlur Rehman agreed to remain in close consultation and adopt a unified approach on matters relating to Kashmir, reaffirming their commitment to promoting political unity and consensus on issues concerning the region.
Meanwhile, speaking to the media during his visit to Mirpur, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that the enduring bond between Pakistan and the people of Kashmir cannot be weakened under any circumstances, asserting that attempts by certain elements to create a divide will never succeed.
He emphasised that Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir and described the Kashmir issue as a matter of fundamental importance for the Pakistani nation. He was accompanied by PM’s Adviser on Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam and several Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leaders.
Referring to the AJK elections -- scheduled for July 27 -- Sanaullah expressed confidence that voters would elect a leadership capable of addressing public issues and accelerating the region’s development. He expressed the hope that the elections would be conducted on time in a transparent and peaceful environment, with strong voter participation.
Criticising India, he alleged that during the so-called ‘Operation Sindoor’, Indian forces targeted civilian areas in different parts of AJK through bombardment. He said Pakistan’s armed forces responded effectively and thwarted the adversary’s objectives.
According to Sanaullah, India is attempting to avenge its failures by creating unrest in Balochistan and the AJK, but Pakistan’s leadership and people have always stood by the Kashmiri population and will continue to do so.
Highlighting the government’s relief measures, Sanaullah said electricity consumers in Pakistan are paying around Rs35 per unit, while electricity in AJK is being supplied at highly subsidised rates. He added that the PMLN government had also provided flour subsidies as further relief to residents of the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry urged the AJK administration to maintain complete neutrality and provide all necessary facilities to ensure a transparent electoral process.
Amir Muqam said several rounds of negotiations had been held in Islamabad with representatives of the proscribed JAAC and that most demands included in the charter of demands had been implemented.
Rana Sanaullah said no disruptive or anti-peace elements would be allowed to disturb the peaceful atmosphere of AJK. He added that the PMLN leadership, particularly former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, takes pride in its Kashmiri roots. He also announced that Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Mirpur on July 19, where he will address the people.
On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Tuesday said the party could reconsider its decision to boycott the upcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) if the political situation in the region improves. He also stressed that political leaders should refrain from dragging the country’s martyrs into political debates and reiterated PTI’s unwavering stance against terrorism.
Speaking to reporters at the Dahgal checkpoint near Adiala Jail, Gohar said PTI’s current position remains in favour of boycotting the AJK elections. However, he added that the party would review its decision if conditions become conducive to a fair political process. He said PTI supports the demands raised by the AJK Awami Joint Action Committee but does not want the situation to lead to bloodshed. Gohar said the party had earlier proposed allowing opposition leaders to visit the AJK to help find a peaceful political solution, adding that safeguarding national unity is the collective responsibility of all Pakistanis.
The PTI chairman rejected any suggestion that his party supports an anti-state narrative. He said terrorism remains a serious national challenge and described Pakistan’s fallen security personnel as national heroes whose sacrifices can never be compensated. Paying tribute to the martyrs, Gohar said their blood would never go in vain and reaffirmed PTI’s clear and consistent position against terrorism.
Referring to remarks made by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Gohar said he did not agree with the comments regarding the country’s martyrs and urged political leaders to exercise caution in their choice of words during speeches.
Repeating allegations previously made by the PTI, he claimed that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) were closely linked, asserting that the entire nation stood united against terrorism.
On the political front, Gohar expressed hope that all detained political leaders would be released. He urged authorities not to rush the verdict in the case involving Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, arguing that a hasty decision would create a negative public perception. He maintained that Aleema Khan was not engaged in politics but was campaigning solely for her imprisoned brother.
The PTI chairman also said that no one had been allowed to meet PTI founder Imran Khan for the past 270 days and demanded the restoration of family visits.
Referring to recent security concerns, he said it was now for Afghanistan to decide the nature of its future relationship with Pakistan.
