AJK police accuse JAAC of working under an 'agenda', say sophisticated weapons seized from arrested suspects

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police have accused the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of pursuing a clandestine agenda, presenting the seizure of sophisticated weapons from arrested individuals as evidence.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khawar Ali Shaukat stated at a press conference that recent incidents in Rawalakot revealed a disconnect between the JAAC's claims of peaceful protest and the reality on the ground. He alleged that "violent incidents, acts of provocation and attacks on security forces" clearly demonstrated the organization's true intentions.

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The violent incidents, acts of provocation and attacks on security forces have made the reality clear.

Shaukat detailed that armed groups ambushed officials with sophisticated weaponry over two days, resulting in the death of one Rangers official and injuries to approximately 15 police and law enforcement personnel. "This demonstrates that the proscribed group is working under an agenda, the purpose of which is to disrupt peace in AJK, disturb the social fabric and damage the atmosphere of brotherhood," he asserted.

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This demonstrates that the proscribed group is working under an agenda, the purpose of which is to disrupt peace in AJK, disturb the social fabric and damage the atmosphere of brotherhood.

The police official further claimed that the scale and nature of the attacks, involving heavy and sophisticated weapons, indicated that the JAAC was not an ordinary organization. Law enforcement agencies arrested several suspects allegedly involved in the violence, recovering a significant cache of arms, including an American automatic weapon. Shaukat refuted social media narratives portraying the group as peaceful while accusing security forces of targeting protesters, stating, "The facts on the ground are contrary to those claims."

The JAAC has been protesting for weeks, demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the local legislature reserved for refugees from Indian-held Kashmir. The government has accused militant elements with foreign backing of fomenting unrest. Conversely, the JAAC alleges that dozens of its supporters were killed in clashes with security personnel, a claim that remains officially unconfirmed.

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The facts on the ground are contrary to those claims.