AJK govt rubbishes BBC report on Rawalakot unrest and casualties

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif on Monday dismissed as baseless a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report on the recent unrest and casualties in the region.

“The BBC report regarding the current situation in AJK is rejected as biased and contrary to the facts. The facts and figures presented in the report are not only incorrect but were also published without any verification or confirmation from any government institution, the police or the civil administration,” he said during a press conference.

The denial came after BBC alleged that in the last two months, dozens of people had been killed across the region in clashes between security officials and protesters from the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The report further alleged that since July 27, a clinic had treated around 50 to 60 critically injured patients, citing a doctor, adding that he personally treated 15 to 20 with gunshot wounds.

Hanif, during today's presser, described the BBC report as contrary to the ethics of journalism and professional standards.

He said the allegations made by the JAAC regarding the incidents in Rawalakot and surrounding areas between July 27 and 31 were not only false and misleading but also part of an organised campaign of misinformation and propaganda.

“These allegations are contrary to the facts and are part of an organised attempt by armed groups to undermine public order and the writ of the state through a campaign against law enforcement agencies,” he said.

Read More: AJK assembly passes resolution seeking truth commission into recent unrest

Hanif added that armed attacks carried out by the proscribed JAAC resulted in the deaths and injuries of law enforcement personnel, as well as the burning and damage of police and Rangers vehicles.

He said the AJK Police spokesperson also displayed weapons recovered from members of the JAAC during the press conference.

“Seven law enforcement personnel were martyred, more than 45 were seriously injured and numerous others sustained minor injuries through the use of these weapons. This confirms that the JAAC is harbouring a large number of armed elements and is attempting to undermine the writ of the state and public order,” he added.

Hanif said the group had a history of violence, saying that its members were involved in armed attacks in 2024 and 2025 that killed security personnel and injured hundreds of others.

“One of the two suspects arrested on July 28 and 29 said that a reward of Rs10 million had been announced for the killing of each Ranger,” Hanif said, adding that the claim raised questions about the group's funding.

The information secretary also said verified videos showed armed individuals affiliated with the banned organisation carrying modern weapons and opening fire during the unrest.

Hanif rejected allegations that security forces carried out indiscriminate firing, deployed snipers or withheld bodies from families, describing the claims as false.

He further said that the banned group had previously been involved in blocking roads, stopping or burning freight vehicles and disrupting the supply of essential goods.

Also Read: JAAC using 'social media to incite people'

According to Hanif, law enforcement agencies had acted to keep roads open and ensure the uninterrupted transportation of essential supplies.

"JAAC had been declared a banned organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act and that all legal proceedings against it were being carried out in accordance with the law," he said.

Last month, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had also lodged a strong official protest and formal complaint with BBC Urdu over the publication of "fake news regarding AJK", accusing the broadcaster of relying on unverified allegations while ignoring official facts and on-record statements.

The unrest in AJK drew widespread attention after reports of multiple deaths and injuries circulated on social media. Several videos circulating online showed scenes of unrest, with claims of violence and casualties, though the details could not be independently verified. Both security forces and the banned JAAC claimed the loss of lives on both sides.

AJK Prime Minister Faisal Rathore also pointed towards the loss of lives, saying "the blood of innocent Kashmiris" was spilt as he blamed the JAAC for the escalation.

The opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also condemned the violence, calling for an immediate, transparent and impartial judicial investigation into the incident.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan called for an impartial and independent investigation into reports of deaths and injuries in Rawalakot during the first phase of the AJK legislative elections held in Mirpur division.

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.