Govt slams Al Jazeera's AJK coverage

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MoIB) on Monday accused Al Jazeera of "selective reporting" on the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, saying the broadcaster had sought to misrepresent the electoral process.

In a post on X, the ministry said, "We have taken note of Al Jazeera's selective reporting from handpicked polling stations in Muzaffarabad today. Through carefully chosen timings and scripted statements from selected individuals, the channel has sought to misrepresent the AJK elections and the voting process."

"Such yellow journalism only confirms the agenda of external actors with vested interests who are attempting to delegitimise this electoral exercise and undermine the popular will of the people of Muzaffarabad and AJK, clearly demonstrated today in their rejection of anarchy and coercion," it added.

Meanwhile, the ministry reminded foreign media journalists that reporting assignments outside Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi require prior approval under the government's External Publicity Guidelines.

In a post on X, the ministry said, "In line with the External Publicity Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Foreign Media journalists are kindly reminded that reporting assignments outside Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi require prior NOC, as per Guideline 8.3."

"All concerned are requested to ensure compliance with the Guidelines," the statement added.

AJK govt rubbishes BBC report

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif on Monday dismissed as baseless a 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.