Muzaffarabad, June 9, 2026: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has initiated formal legal proceedings against leaders of the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), ordering investigations into allegations of sedition and anti-state activities.
According to official notifications, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Muzaffarabad has been directed to investigate JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir under Section 124-A of the AJK Penal Code, while the SSP Mirpur has been tasked with probing similar allegations against Khawaja Mehran Arshad.
The AJK Home Department stated that, after reviewing available material, there were sufficient grounds to warrant further investigation under the law. The inquiries will examine alleged criminal speeches, writings, publications, and electronic communications attributed to the accused.
Authorities have directed the relevant district police officers to complete investigations under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and submit challans before the competent courts.
The move comes days after the AJK government declared the JAAC a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws on June 5, alleging that the group was involved in activities prejudicial to the peace and security of the state.
The latest directives follow violent incidents in Rawalakot and the emergence of an alleged leaked audio recording purportedly involving Mir and Arshad.
On Monday, AJK police claimed that members of the banned organisation opened deliberate fire on law enforcement personnel in Rawalakot, resulting in the martyrdom of four security officials and injuries to more than 20 police and security personnel.
In a separate notification, the AJK Home Department released a list of four wanted individuals allegedly linked to the banned organisation. The list includes Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Khawaja Mehran Arshad, Umar Nazir Kashmiri, and Sardar Aman Khan.
The government announced a reward of Rs10 million for information leading to the arrest of the wanted individuals and assured that the identity of informants would remain strictly confidential. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) AJK has been directed to ensure immediate implementation of the reward scheme.
Meanwhile, Syed Faisal Gilani, a former member of the JAAC, announced his dissociation from the banned organisation and condemned the violent attacks reported in Rawalakot.
Separately, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the overall situation in AJK remained under control and that authorities were taking all necessary measures to protect lives and property.
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad, he said the government had begun implementing the demands previously raised by the organisation in a sincere manner, but recent developments suggested that the group’s objectives extended beyond those demands.
Chaudhry maintained that normalcy had largely been restored across AJK, including Rawalakot, and said a detailed statement would be issued regarding reports of casualties during the recent unrest.
