JAAC Protesters in Rawalakot Disperse Amid Crackdown Fears
Activists and supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) dispersed from their protest sites on the outskirts of Rawalakot, Poonch district, in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday. The dispersal followed indications that authorities were preparing a major operation to remove the protesters. This development comes amidst ongoing tensions between the regional administration and JAAC, primarily over the committee's demand to abolish 12 reserved seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly for refugees. The administration had recently proscribed JAAC, alleging its involvement in terrorism and actions prejudicial to state peace and security.
All three gatherings of Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) activists and supporters near Rawalakot, in AJK's Poonch district, dispersed shortly after midnight on Friday. Participants returned to their respective areas, reportedly due to fears of a major operation by authorities.
Poonch Divisional Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan confirmed that all participants had surrendered and left the sit-in sites. The administration had constituted a contingent of approximately 1,000 personnel from the Rangers, Federal Constabulary, Islamabad, and AJK police for a “decisive action” on Thursday evening. A flag-march involving 70 to 80 armored and other vehicles was also staged.
The regional administration and JAAC have been in conflict over several issues. A central demand from JAAC is the abolition of 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly, which are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947.
Earlier attempts to engage with JAAC leaders included an administrative move to arrest Umar Nazir Kashmiri, a core JAAC member. Backchannel communications reportedly involved local leaders Sardar Javed Nisar and Sardar Javed Sharif, who conveyed a message for Kashmiri to surrender. Kashmiri initially responded that he would end the sit-ins and surrender if the notification proscribing JAAC was withdrawn. However, upon learning of the large flag-march, JAAC members reportedly became apprehensive of a swift and decisive administrative action, leading to their dispersal by midnight.
Authorities have also taken steps to assert state writ. Deputy commissioners have been directed to raid the houses of activists wanted under First Information Reports (FIRs). Additionally, the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and passports of all 31 core JAAC members have been blocked.
Rawalakot experienced a complete shutter-down strike for the third consecutive day on Thursday. Violence occurred during a JAAC gathering on Rawalakot’s outskirts, resulting in one participant's death and injuries to four others in a clash with law enforcement personnel. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif urged the people of AJK to decide on the fate of the 12 refugee seats. The AJK government had proscribed JAAC on June 9, declaring it engaged in terrorism and acting prejudicially to state peace and security. A subsequent crackdown led to arrests, sedition proceedings, and a Rs10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of four leaders. Prior unrest in Rawalakot involved a violent protest that caused the deaths of at least four law enforcement personnel and seven civilians. Federal paramilitary forces have been deployed to reinforce local police, and visitors have been advised to postpone trips to the region until June 20.
According to Dawn Pakistan, these events unfolded as tensions continued in the region.
