ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said the recent protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) were not peaceful demonstrations but violent, involving Indian-backed terrorists.
“Peaceful and transparent elections were held in AJK, with all the mainstream political parties participating fully. The people of Kashmir responded to the call of the election,” he said.
Tarar said the electoral process witnessed a strong public response, noting that around 600,000 votes were cast in Rawalakot alone in yesterday’s elections. He said political parties were able to hold public rallies and conduct election campaigns without disruption, describing voter participation as “spectacular.”
He alleged that the proscribed JAAC was unwilling to accept the peaceful political process or the successful conduct of transparent elections.
Minister for Information & Broadcasting @TararAttaullah says elements trying to damage the #Kashmir cause will not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs#RadioPakistan #news https://t.co/bfvn5Qb54M pic.twitter.com/F3khSS37qL
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) July 28, 2026
Referring to the press conference earlier in the day by senior AJK officials, Tarar claimed that “a violent group that opposes progress, development and Kashmir’s unbreakable relationship with Pakistan resorted to violence in an attempt to disrupt peace and stability.”
People of Kashmir rejected violent groups
“The people of Kashmir rejected them and chose the democratic path through elections,” he said.
The information minister further alleged that security forces had recovered weapons from those involved in the unrest, adding that some of the suspects had also opened fire on law enforcement personnel during the clashes.
“From day one, we have been saying that they are not peaceful protesters. This is a violent group. They are terrorists working on a foreign agenda and receiving Indian funding,” he stated.
Tarar said the recent events had exposed what he described as the group’s true intentions, adding that the federal government fully supported the AJK administration’s efforts to deal with those involved in the unrest.
Pakistan stands firmly with AJK government
“The Government of Pakistan stands firmly with the AJK government in taking action against these elements,” he said.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, in his remarks, reaffirmed the federal government’s full support for the AJK administration in maintaining law and order and ensuring peace and stability in the region.
Chaudhry alleged that the proscribed JAAC had moved beyond a campaign for public rights and had instead become a movement aimed at “snatching” the rights of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the government had addressed 37 of the group’s 38 demands, arguing that Islamabad had extended full cooperation to the committee.
The minister also questioned the timing of the group’s protests, saying they coincided with the AJK electoral process.
According to Chaudhry, JAAC initially attempted to disrupt the election schedule to create the impression that the government was denying Kashmiris their democratic right to vote despite advocating a referendum on the Kashmir issue.
He claimed that after failing to derail the electoral process, members of the banned organisation launched long marches, sit-ins and strikes, while blocking roads and disrupting normal life across the region.
“Their last desire was that the people of Mirpur would not come out to vote and would support them, but when people came out, and turnout increased at polling stations, why then did the unrest occur?” he questioned.
““M-4, an imported American gun, Kalashnikovs and sniper guns [were recovered]. One of our security personnel was martyred and five others were injured, including an official who was shot by a sniper,” he said.
“What kind of protest is this? This cannot be a protest. This is something else in the guise of a protest — this is militancy,” Chaudhry said.
Government would safeguard people’s right to vote
Chaudhry reaffirmed that the federal government would safeguard the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and democratic right to vote, saying the electoral process would not be allowed to be disrupted.
He alleged that the demonstrations had evolved beyond peaceful protest and would now be treated as a law-and-order issue.
“This is no longer a protest movement. The situation in AJK will now be dealt with accordingly,” he said.
The state minister said those involved in acts of violence would be treated as offenders under the law, adding that the AJK government would exercise all legal powers available to take action against them.
He urged ordinary citizens to distance themselves from the protesters, alleging that the group included armed individuals, snipers and others who had created circumstances that compelled security forces to respond in self-defence.
Chaudhry maintained that law enforcement agencies had exercised restraint over the past one to two months and had used force only in a “measured and proportionate” manner when required to protect public order.
Banned Joint Awami Action Committee tried to disrupt Azad Kashmir elections
Earlier the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government accused the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of attempting to disrupt the ongoing electoral process through violent protests and acts of unrest.
Addressing a press conference in Muzaffarabad, AJK Secretary Information Muhammad Rashid Hanif, accompanied by AJK Police spokesperson Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Irfan Masood Kashfi, said the government remained committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring the peaceful conduct of elections.
Hanif said maintaining public order was the government’s foremost responsibility and assured that all necessary measures would be taken to safeguard citizens and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The information secretary recalled that the AJK government had declared JAAC a proscribed organisation on June 5 under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), due to the group’s involvement in terrorist activities.
Hanif said that members of the banned organisation included armed individuals, terrorists and people linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used by the state to refer to terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
