MUZAFFARABAD, June 7 (Alliance News): Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Saturday said the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government would no longer negotiate with elements involved in creating unrest under the guise of politics, following the decision to declare the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organization.
Speaking a day after the AJK government banned the JAAC under anti-terrorism laws ahead of its planned June 9 protest, the prime minister said the state would protect the right to peaceful protest but would not tolerate blackmail, violence or attacks on state institutions.
Without naming individuals, Rathore alleged that those involved in sit-ins, arson and riots had links with supporters of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
He said he had personally witnessed previous negotiations with the now-banned group and claimed that despite repeated efforts by the government, the organization refused to engage meaningfully in dialogue.
The premier further stated that the government had sought additional time to address the group’s demand regarding the abolition of 12 reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), but the group rejected the proposal.
Meanwhile, police authorities confirmed the arrest of at least 72 members of the banned organization during operations across AJK.
According to a spokesperson for the Inspector General of Police, weapons, communication devices and documents described as suspicious were recovered from those detained.
Earlier, the AJK Home Department formally placed the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, also known as JAAC and Awami Action Committee (AAC), in the First Schedule under the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014.
The official notification stated that the organization was involved in activities prejudicial to public order and state security, including creating unrest, intimidation and promoting insecurity among the public. Following approval by the AJK president, the group was designated a proscribed organization under Section 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The JAAC has previously organized large-scale protests over economic issues and political rights, some of which turned violent and resulted in fatalities during clashes with law enforcement in 2024 and 2025.
