Casualties reported after JAAC, police clash in AJK's Rawalakot

Casualties were reported after clashes between the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday as the former attempted to enter Rawalakot amid the elections for the legislative assembly.

A statement from the AJK Police said that armed JAAC groups tried to “forcefully enter Rawalakot city this evening, on which the law enforcement officials repeatedly appealed to the protesting participants to refrain from disturbing the peace and order of the city and end their protest peacefully and disperse”.

It added that “the miscreants of the banned Awami Action Committee, while rejecting the appeal made by the law enforcement agencies, not only tried to forcefully enter the city, but also opened fire on the law enforcement officials in clear violation of the law and challenging the state writ, resulting in the injury to two officials of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police.”

The statement further noted that “the state will ensure the rule of law, public order and protection of life and property of citizens at all costs. Indiscriminate action will be taken against the elements who try to take the law into their own hands, challenge the state writ or spread violence and chaos as per the law.”

Meanwhile, JAAC in a series of posts on X claimed that “indiscriminate force" was being used against it, including the use of "lethal force" by the state.

In another post on X, it alleged that five were killed while approximately 15 people were injured. It later updated the number of those allegedly killed in the clashes to nine, including JAAC leader Sardar Umar Nazir's brother.

The violence comes in the backdrop of polling for the first phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, which concluded at 6pm in 13 constituencies across Mirpur Division on Monday after the electoral process was overshadowed by the shooting of a political worker and allegations of rigging.

The elections are being held in three phases under a revised schedule announced by AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal on July 21.

The first phase covers all 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division, while polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies will be held on August 2, followed by Poonch (Rawalakot) Division on August 10.

Previously, the AJK government accused the proscribed JAAC of causing financial losses of Rs15 billion to the state through violent activities and alleged that the group has links with anti-state elements backed by India.

The allegations came after authorities claimed to have uncovered evidence linking protest organisers and overseas handlers with India, accusing them of promoting anti-state narratives and orchestrating unrest through coordinated campaigns.

READ: JAAC using 'social media to incite people'

Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif stated that the group disrupted law and order, routine life, businesses, and students' education under the guise of advocating for human rights.

According to the information secretary, what initially began as a public movement was later hijacked by anti-state elements, diverting it from its original objectives toward political motives before evolving into an unregistered anti-state movement.

Background

AJK's 53-member legislative assembly includes 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees — people who fled Indian-controlled Kashmir in 1947 and 1965 and are now scattered across Pakistan. Six seats represent refugees from the Jammu division (~434,000 people) and six from the Kashmir Valley (~30,000 people) — an already lopsided arrangement that many see as unfair.

The region witnessed one of its most turbulent periods in October last year when protests led by the JAAC erupted over demands for constitutional and governance reforms. At least nine people, including three policemen, were killed during the unrest.

The JAAC, which organised the protests and strike, had presented a wide-ranging charter of demands, including an end to the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees, and the scrapping of the quota system.

Two days after the violence, the government and the JAAC reached an agreement covering 12 core and 13 additional points. Under the accord, both sides agreed to constitute a high-level committee to examine the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

The matter is at a deadlock at the moment, with the JAAC calling for the abolition of the seats while the government rejects the demand.