State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry announced on Tuesday that the federal government stands ready to back the Azad Jammu and Kashmir administration in taking firm action against agitators attempting to disrupt the ongoing electoral process and destabilize the region. He made these remarks during a press briefing in Islamabad, where he was joined by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
The statement follows violent clashes in Rawalakot involving members of the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, an organization the AJK government outlawed on June 5 under the Anti-Terrorism Act over alleged terrorism links. Authorities imposed the ban shortly before the group’s planned protest on June 9, which had called for scrapping 12 AJK Assembly seats set aside for refugees who migrated from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir after 1947.
Interior Minister Criticizes Banned Group’s Agenda
Chaudhry argued that the group’s campaign was not genuinely about protecting rights but rather about stripping rights away from the public. He claimed the organization was working to deny Kashmiris their voting rights and to weaken the democratic process in the region.
Pointing to the completed first phase of polling in Mirpur Division, the minister said voter turnout showed that the public had rejected efforts to derail the elections. He noted that politicians from both Pakistan and AJK had campaigned actively throughout the region, and he expressed confidence that disruption attempts would ultimately fail.
Chaudhry alleged that both local and foreign actors were fueling the unrest, claiming the banned committee was trying to draw international attention away from the elections by stoking instability. He pointed out that 37 of the group’s 38 original demands had already been met, calling continued demonstrations unwarranted. According to him, once efforts to block the vote failed to win public backing, certain elements turned to violence.
He further alleged that acts of terrorism were being disguised as protest activity, stressing that weapons have no place in legitimate demonstrations. The minister reaffirmed that the central government would extend full support to AJK authorities to protect citizens and preserve the integrity of the vote.
Information Minister Says Turnout Reflects Public Rejection of Unrest
Speaking at the same briefing, Tarar said that AJK residents had shown their rejection of violent elements through strong participation in the elections. He cited roughly 600,000 votes cast across Mirpur Division as evidence of public commitment to the democratic process despite attempts to create chaos.
Tarar accused the banned committee of opposing Kashmir’s development, peace, and its longstanding ties with Pakistan. He alleged the group was pursuing an agenda backed by India and receiving foreign funding, claiming this had revealed its true motives to both the Kashmiri public and the wider international community. He added that the state would not tolerate any group attempting to impose its will through violence or intimidation and would take all steps necessary to preserve regional stability.
AJK Government Says Banned Group Included Militants
Earlier the same day, AJK officials stated that the banned committee had tried to derail the election process through violent unrest. AJK Secretary Information Muhammad Rashid Hanif addressed reporters in Muzaffarabad alongside AJK Police spokesperson DIG Irfan Masood Kashfi, following clashes between security personnel and committee supporters during ongoing sit-ins in Rawalakot.
Hanif emphasized that maintaining law and order remained the state’s foremost duty and pledged that authorities would take every necessary step to protect the public and ensure elections proceeded smoothly. He alleged that the banned organization’s ranks included armed individuals, militants, and people connected to Fitna al-Khawarij, claiming state institutions possessed evidence supporting this. He also urged residents to be wary of misleading narratives circulating about the protests, alleging that some within the group had used ordinary civilians as human shields during demonstrations.
Hanif added that strong voter participation in Mirpur Division’s first phase demonstrated the public’s preference for resolving disputes peacefully through democratic means.
DIG Kashfi said some individuals involved in the clashes were carrying modern automatic weapons, and that five police personnel, including one officer, sustained injuries after coming under fire. He appealed to the public to stay in close contact with local administration and state institutions, describing public cooperation as vital to restoring calm.
Earlier Arrest Linked to Alleged India-Backed Digital Campaign
On Sunday, Tarar had confirmed that security agencies arrested a suspect allegedly tied to an India-linked digital influence operation targeting Pakistan. He said the individual was engaged in digital marketing work and that the investigation uncovered connections between these activities and sources in India, according to Radio Pakistan.
The minister said payments for content promoting anti-Pakistan narratives on social media were traced back to India, and that the probe also uncovered a bot-farm network allegedly used to spread disinformation targeting Pakistan’s sovereignty, military, and state institutions. He added that the suspect, during questioning, reportedly linked a large share of this content to activities connected with the banned committee’s operations in AJK.