Armed elements backing JAAC protests

The federal government and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) administration on Tuesday alleged that militant elements had infiltrated protests organised by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in an attempt to disrupt the democratic process during the region's elections.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the first phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections had been held in a peaceful and transparent manner with the participation of all mainstream political parties.

Referring to a press conference held earlier by senior AJK officials, Tarar said that a violent group opposed to development and Kashmir's relationship with Pakistan had resorted to violence in an attempt to undermine peace after failing to gain public support through the electoral process.

He said that weapons had been recovered from the protesters and that they had opened fire on security forces. Reiterating the government's stance, Tarar said the protesters were not peaceful demonstrators but militant elements pursuing a foreign agenda and receiving Indian funding.

He added that the government of Pakistan fully supported the AJK government's position against such elements. Speaking alongside him, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry assured the AJK government of the federal government's full support in maintaining law and order and restoring peace in the region.

The press conference came after the AJK government also alleged that members of Fitna Al Khawarij - a term used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) - were present among protesters linked to the proscribed JAAC.

At a press conference in Muzaffarabad, AJK Information Secretary Rashid Hanif said the government was committed to maintaining law and order and protecting the democratic process. He claimed a significant number of protesters were affiliated with Fitna Al Khawarij rather than being ordinary demonstrators.

Hanif displayed a video that showed masked armed men positioned on the roof of a building, alleging that armed individuals had infiltrated the demonstrations. He appealed to the public to distance themselves from such elements and also alleged that anti-state actors were using women and children as human shields.

AJK police spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General Irfan Kashfi said security forces would deal with the armed elements in the same manner as any other terrorists. He alleged that those involved possessed automatic weapons, including M-4 rifles, submachine guns, AK-47 rifles and sniper weapons.

Kashfi said one police official had been martyred and five others injured during the clashes. He added that a suspect had been arrested in Rawalakot and a military-grade weapon recovered from his possession. According to preliminary information, the suspect was a foreign national allegedly acting as a sniper.

Earlier, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore shared a video showing several armed individuals and alleged that the violence had been planned in advance. He claimed the planned march towards Muzaffarabad during the election period was intended to trigger widespread unrest and urged the public to stay away from the agitators, alleging that they had previously used civilians as human shields.