Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has announced that his administration will cease all dialogue with individuals who incite disorder under the pretense of political activism. This declaration follows the government’s recent decision to designate the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) as a banned organization under anti-terrorism legislation, just before the group’s scheduled protest on June 9.
Without directly naming any individuals, PM Rathore accused those involved in sit-ins, arson, and violent disturbances of being affiliates of the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). He emphasized his personal involvement in previous negotiations with the now-banned JAAC, describing it as a non-political and non-parliamentary entity that repeatedly refused to engage in talks despite numerous attempts.
Highlighting statements from JAAC leaders, the AJK premier noted their continued commitment to confront the state, asserting that while peaceful protests are a right, coercion and intimidation will not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, law enforcement authorities detained at least 72 members of the banned JAAC in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Police recovered weapons, communication devices, and suspicious documents from those arrested, underscoring concerns about the group’s activities.
Earlier, the AJK Home Department issued an official notification placing JAAC on the First Schedule of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014. The notification described the organization, also known as the Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC) and Awami Action Committee (AAC), as engaged in terrorism and actions detrimental to the state’s peace and security. It accused the group of fostering anarchy by intimidating the public, spreading hatred, and generating widespread insecurity.
In a significant development, the AJK president approved the inclusion of JAAC in the First Schedule of the ATA 2014, formally proscribing the group under the law.
JAAC has a history of organizing large-scale protests centered on economic grievances and political rights, some of which escalated into violent clashes with law enforcement in May 2024 and September 2025, resulting in fatalities. Their latest campaign demands the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who migrated to Pakistan after 1947.
PM Rathore revealed that his government had requested a one-week period to consider the abolition of these refugee seats, but the JAAC rejected this offer, further escalating tensions.
