MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Friday formally banned the Joint Awami Action Committee, declaring it a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The Home Department issued a notification placing the group, also known as JAAC, in the First Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Officials said the decision was taken after approval from the AJK president.
According to the notification, the organisation has been involved in activities that threaten peace and security in the region. It accused the group of promoting unrest, spreading hatred, and creating fear among the public.
Authorities said the decision was made under Section 12 of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014.
The move comes after JAAC announced a protest call for June 9. The group has previously staged large-scale demonstrations over economic and political demands, some of which turned violent during clashes with law enforcement in 2024 and 2025.
The latest protest campaign focused on a demand to abolish 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan.
Ahead of the planned protests, the AJK government issued a travel advisory asking tourists to avoid visiting the region between June 5 and June 20. Visitors already in the area were advised to leave by Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, an All Parties Conference held in Muzaffarabad rejected the demand to abolish the reserved refugee seats, stating that any constitutional reforms are the responsibility of elected representatives.
The AJK Legislative Assembly also passed a resolution earlier this week retaining the 12 refugee seats, calling them a historical and constitutional reality.
Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the demand to remove the seats was an attempt to undermine the electoral process. He said the refugee communities had made significant sacrifices and deserved representation.
He also highlighted the long-standing presence of Kashmiri migrants in different parts of Pakistan, particularly in Sialkot, where they settled after the events of 1947.
The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has already announced July 27, 2026 as the date for general elections. The full election schedule has also been issued.
According to the schedule, nomination papers will be submitted from June 9 to June 19, while polling will take place from 8am to 5pm on July 27 across all constituencies.
