Key Points
- Attack occurred near Tain-Dhalkot in Poonch on Friday afternoon.
- Ilyas blamed banned JAAC members for the assault.
- Ilyas demanded decisive action against those behind the attack.
MUZAFFARABAD: Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister and regional president of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, escaped unhurt after unidentified gunmen opened fire on his election convoy in Poonch district on Friday, killing one of his personal security guards and injuring several others.
According to officials, the attack took place at around 1:30 pm when Ilyas’s convoy had travelled about one-and-a-half kilometres beyond the Tain-Dhalkot bridge over the Jhelum River in his native constituency, LA-22 (Poonch-V). The assailants allegedly fired from the surrounding mountainside.
Muhammad Asif, a retired Special Services Group (SSG) commando from Sudhnoti serving as Ilyas’s personal security guard, was shot in the head after reportedly moving to shield the former premier during the attack. He was critically injured and later died while being shifted to a hospital in Rawalpindi.
Officials confirmed that Ilyas was not injured.
In a video message released later in the day, the former premier paid tribute to Asif, saying he had sacrificed his life while protecting him. He also claimed that several other members of the convoy sustained injuries during the attack.
Sources close to Ilyas said he had announced financial compensation and a residential plot for the family of the slain guard.
Security warning
Official sources said Ilyas’s staff had informed the Poonch administration son Thursday night about his plan to visit LA-22 to attend public meetings and offer condolences to bereaved families.
The administration, citing the prevailing law and order situation, reportedly advised him not to visit the constituency and instead suggested that he travel to neighbouring LA-15 (Bagh-II).
According to officials, Ilyas insisted on proceeding with the visit despite the warning. Authorities allegedly informed him that if he chose to continue, he would do so at his own risk.
Sources further claimed that Ilyas’s staff later told the police control room that road closures were “our issue” and asked only that senior officials be informed of his visit.
The area where the attack occurred has witnessed repeated tensions in recent months amid protests and road blockades.
Political fallout
In his video statement, Ilyas accused armed members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of carrying out the attack.
He alleged that the same group protesting over shortages of flour and other essential commodities was also blocking roads and holding the state’s administrative machinery and ordinary citizens hostage.
Saying repeated attempts to resolve the situation through dialogue and mediation had failed, Ilyas called the attackers “terrorists” and demanded decisive action against them.
“The state must deal with such elements with an iron hand,” he said, adding that the smilitary should also play its role if necessary.
He further warned that “stones will be answered with stones and bricks with bricks” and alleged that those responsible were advancing “RAW’s agenda” in the region, referring to India’s external intelligence agency.
