ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formally lodged a strong protest with BBC Urdu, accusing the outlet of publishing false and misleading information regarding Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The report relied on unverified and uncorroborated allegations while disregarding official facts and on-record statements, the ministry said in a post on X.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first instance of such reporting. The repeated publication of unverified claims has become a trend, and corrective measures must be taken,” it said.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has lodged a strong official protest and formal complaint with BBC Urdu over the publication of fake news regarding Azad Jammu & Kashmir.
The report relied on unverified and uncorroborated allegations while disregarding official facts and…
— Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (@MoIB_Official) June 25, 2026
Pakistan had also urged the United Kingdom to caution its Members of Parliament and members of the Pakistani diaspora in Britain against supporting banned groups in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, saying their remarks on the region reflected a disregard for its historical context.
In an official statement, the Foreign Office strongly rejected “unwarranted, irresponsible and ill-informed” remarks and insinuations made by certain members of the UK-based diaspora concerning the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The Foreign Office said it had taken serious note of comments made by individuals within the diaspora in the United Kingdom, advising them to refrain from interfering in Pakistan’s internal affairs, including those of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Banned JAAC’s illegal acts caused up to Rs15 billion economic loss
Meanwhile Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Finance Minister Chaudhry Qasim Majeed and Information Minister Rafiq Nayyar said on Thursday that illegal and unconstitutional acts by members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), including prolonged strikes, road blockades and violent protests, had caused up to Rs15 billion economic damage to the region, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to dialogue and the protection of democratic rights.
Addressing a joint press conference on the prevailing situation in AJK, the ministers said the government fully respected the public’s right to peaceful protest and legitimate demands. However, they stressed that shutdowns of businesses, transport networks and commercial activities in the name of protest had adversely affected the region’s economy and the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
According to preliminary estimates prepared by the Finance Department and other relevant institutions, AJK suffered an overall economic loss of between Rs10 billion and Rs15 billion during June 2026 as a result of strikes and protest activities. The ministers said the tourism, trade and transport sectors had been particularly affected, while internal revenue collection and tax receipts had also declined significantly.
Azad Kashmir government declares JAAC proscribed organisation
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government declared the Joint Awami Action Committee a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws on June 5, saying the group was “engaged in terrorism, acting in a manner prejudicial to the peace and security of the State”.
Authorities argue that concerns regarding the committee’s intentions intensified after a series of statements and actions that they say went beyond peaceful political activism. Officials said that rhetoric directed against state institutions, calls for the withdrawal of security forces, disruption of educational activities and inflammatory narratives contributed to growing suspicions about the organisation’s real objectives.
Government officials further contend that support expressed by hostile foreign media outlets, anti-state social media accounts and Indian media platforms for the committee’s activities raised serious questions about the forces seeking to exploit unrest in the region. According to security analysts supporting the government’s position, these developments gradually exposed an organised effort to challenge state authority under the cover of a public rights movement.
The AJK government had also registered a case under Section 124-A of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Penal Code (APC) against Khawaja Mehran Arshad, a key ringleader of the proscribed Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), following a highly provocative speech targeting the country’s security architecture.
