Sedition cases, ‘head money’ against JAAC leaders ordered

Parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) were paralyzed by a widespread strike on Tuesday, marked by confrontations between law enforcement and followers of the recently banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).

The AJK government has initiated sedition proceedings against two JAAC leaders and announced a 10 million Pakistani rupee reward for information leading to the arrest of four other key figures. Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore called for a return to negotiations to de-escalate the tensions gripping the region.

Clashes erupted as protesters from Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli districts marched towards Muzaffarabad. In Mirpur, police and protesters clashed briefly, resulting in injuries. More violent confrontations occurred in Kotli city, where residents and cabinet members anonymously reported several fatalities, including a doctor and a woman, along with numerous injuries. The ongoing internet and mobile data disruptions have hindered the collection of real-time information.

Across AJK, all businesses, including banks and medical stores, were closed, and public transport was suspended. In Muzaffarabad, riot police were deployed around government buildings and main roads. Meanwhile, the AJK Bar Council called for a boycott of judicial proceedings to protest the alleged arrest of senior lawyer Amjad Ali Khan, a JAAC member.

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PM Rathore urges a return to talks