AJK govt asks JAAC leaders to surrender, assures due legal process

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Tuesday vowed to proceed in accordance with the law if leaders of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) surrendered to authorities, while holding the group responsible for a series of violent attacks against law enforcement officials as well as public assets to destabilise law and order in the valley. For the last couple of years, the local administration and the JAAC have been at loggerheads over the abolishment of 12 reserved seats in the AJK Assembly allocated for the refugees hailing from the Indian-occupied Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947. Addressing a joint press conference, AJK Chief Secretary Flight Lieutenant (Retd) Khushal Khan and Inspector General of Police (IG) Captain (Retd) Liaqat Ali Malik outlined the government's stance on the law and order crisis in the valley that led to the negotiation deadlock. Appealing to the public, Khan urged citizens to avoid what he termed "misleading protests" and focus on their own welfare. Addressing JAAC members and supporters directly, he said the government would ensure due legal process for those involved if they voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement authorities. According to Khan, the government accepted key demands of the movement, including subsidised electricity tariffs, resulting in a financial burden of Rs8-9 billion on the exchequer. He added that after gaining public support, the JAAC gradually expanded its list of demands from three to eight and eventually to 38 demands, creating what he described as a cycle of continuous agitation. Khan maintained that 36 of the 38 demands included in an agreement with the Action Committee had been fully implemented, costing the governments of Pakistan and AJK between Rs20 billion and Rs25 billion. "The committee was expected to oversee the implementation process, but instead chose to sabotage it," he alleged. The region’s top secretary said the group's objections initially centred on the composition of the implementation committee, prompting the government to make changes in response to its concerns. Despite repeated boycotts and new demands from the JAAC, he said, the government continued to implement the agreed measures and launched various development projects that had reached the tendering stage. The apex secretary stated that the proscribed outfit was supposed to oversee the implementation process, but instead, it chose to sabotage it. Explaining why some demands could not be accepted, Khan said certain proposals were financially unviable. "For example, the removal of advance income tax would have caused a loss of Rs35 billion to the AJK government," he elucidated. He noted that while AJK's annual revenue stood at approximately Rs70 billion, the region relied heavily on financial support from the federal government of Pakistan. "The Government of Pakistan contributes around Rs300 billion to cover AJK's budget deficit, while we also benefit from several indirect forms of support in the form of projects and other resources." Dispute over reserved seats The chief secretary also addressed the controversy surrounding 12 reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, claiming that the JAAC refused to participate in a committee formed to resolve the matter. According to Khan, the committee insisted that the reserved seats be abolished before any further dialogue could take place. He further said that the JAAC had demanded the removal of the "accession to Pakistan" clause from the AJK Interim Constitution and from the oath taken by the AJK parliamentarians. "They also spoke about revisiting the Karachi Agreement, which exposes their actual intentions under the guise of public welfare," the chief secretary highlighted. The Karachi Agreement, signed in April 1949, had transferred administrative control of Gilgit-Baltistan and subjects including defence, foreign affairs and communications from the AJK government to Pakistan. Khan said discussions between the government and the committee on May 30 had been marked by what he described as an "offensive" attitude from JAAC representatives. "They threatened to launch a long march, while some participants even referred to it as an armed incursion." The chief secretary said the government had proposed three options for resolving the reserved seats dispute: convening an all-parties conference, referring the matter to the Supreme Court, or debating it in the Legislative Assembly. "All three options were rejected," he lamented. Following the collapse of negotiations, Khan alleged that JAAC supporters began mobilising across the region and attempted to disrupt supplies to border areas. They stopped food supplies from reaching border posts and called on citizens to shut down markets after June 9 in support of their strike, he said. He added that the administration subsequently sought assistance from paramilitary forces to maintain law and order. The chief secretary thanked the business community for continuing commercial activities despite calls for strikes and blockades. "People in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions stood with the government, while residents of Rawalakot also pledged support and distanced themselves from the protesters," the top bureaucrat maintained. Read: Govt calls on JAAC to abandon 'violence', says no direct talks ongoing although AJK PM welcome to try Casualties, cases and arrests The AJK IGP detailed that the incidents of violence in the recent unrest led to the deaths of at least four law enforcement personnel, while 97 were wounded. To hold the miscreants responsible, 155 suspects were placed under the fourth schedule, Malik said, adding that at least 145 cases were registered against those involved in the unrest. Providing an update on the retaliatory law enforcement actions, the police chief further stated that police had arrested 572 suspects and all previously dismissed cases had been “reinstated”. Malik maintained that the government's priority remained the restoration and preservation of peace throughout AJK. He stated that authorities had not prevented peaceful demonstrations and had expressed willingness to address legitimate public demands.  The police chief also noted that the federal government had provided approximately Rs120-125 billion to the AJK government to meet its administrative requirements. Concluding the press conference, Malik said the activities of the banned outfit had disrupted peace and stability in the region and pledged that the law enforcement agencies would continue efforts to maintain public order. AJK premier accepts call for ‘meaningful dialogue’ from ‘stubborn’ JAAC Meanwhile, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said that the JAAC sought mediation from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to resolve outstanding issues with the government. Rathore shared a video message on X from Fazl, which outlined the message from the group. “Isn't this what we've been asking from them since Day 1?” Rathore asked, maintaining that the government always insisted on the continuity of dialogue. He added that he personally appealed to JAAC on numerous occasions to call off their lockdown, end its campaign of agitation and return to the table. The premier lamented that it raised slogans against “so-called political interference in AJK's affairs” and had now approached the JUI-F chief to overcome the negotiation deadlock. Remarking on the new JAAC stance, he said, “This required no mediation until they decided to bully the state.” In the video shared by the AJK PM, the JUI-F leader accepted the role of a mediator and said he needed time to convince the government to convene negotiations. Fazl said he received a letter from JAAC leaders Sardar Umar Aziz, Khawaja Mehran, and Shaukat Nawaz Mir to arbitrate in the tense conflict with the AJK government. Isn't this what we've been asking from them since Day 1? We asked them not to leave dialogue. They showed zero flexibility. I personally appealed to them on numerous occasions to call off their lockdown, end their campaign of agitation and return to the table. They ignored.… pic.twitter.com/DPnCaDIeM0 — Faisal Mumtaz Rathore (@PMofAJK) June 23, 2026 He called on the committee to quit protesting while he tried to bring the government to the table for talks. Additionally, he urged the JAAC to abandon all actions that could lead to the intensification of the conflict so that a “pathway for talks” could be carved out. The JUI-F chief hoped the JAAC, as well as the government, would show flexibility to pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. On the other hand, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also shared his views about the ongoing unrest in AJK and said, "The nefarious and external agenda-driven voices coming out of AJK against Pakistan and the Kashmir cause must be responded to in the strongest possible terms." The minister highlighted that the Kashmiris were the ones who paid the price for migration and continued "to pay the price in IIOJK". "The people of AJK, who live here in peace and tranquillity for many decades guarded by soldiers from all over Pakistan, and surely brave hearts from AJK too, need to recognise the sacrifices of Kashmiris of IIOJK and the muhajirs of 1947 and later years. Belittling these sacrifices is negating the Kashmir cause." Asif further said that in his opinion, the Kashmiri identity was defined by the "sacrifices and struggles waged over almost eight decades by Pakistanis, including Kashmiris and all others, not by birth certificates". My remarks about the crisis in AJK were frank and honest, Alhamdolillah. Those who have sinister agendas may try to twist them but they cannot take Kashmir out of me or out from Pakistan or take Pakistan out of Kashmir. The sacrifices of Kashmiris who crossed over into Pakistan… — Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) June 23, 2026 Background The recent unrest and deadly clashes broke out in areas, including Rawalakot, where the JAAC had been holding a sit-in outside the Combined Military Hospital Rawalakot. AJK police allege that armed JAAC members opened fire on deployed law enforcement in a planned attack, leaving four personnel dead and around 20 injured. JAAC, however, disputes this account, claiming security forces used tear gas and fired shells toward the hospital. According to the AJK police, three individuals linked to the JAAC and four law enforcement personnel were killed during the protests. JAAC, however, said in a statement on X that seven individuals were killed and dozens were injured when street firing was carried out in the dark after electricity was allegedly cut off. The clash came as the AJK government and the JAAC witnessed a face-off, as the election date for AJK was announced for July 27. Read More: Certain elements seeking to create instability in AJK despite repeated offers of dialogue: Rana Sanaullah AJK's 53-member legislative assembly includes 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees — people who fled Indian-controlled Kashmir in 1947 and 1965 and are now scattered across Pakistan. Six seats represent refugees from the Jammu division (~434,000 people) and six from the Kashmir Valley (~30,000 people) — an already lopsided arrangement that many see as unfair. The region witnessed one of its most turbulent periods in October last year when protests led by the JAAC erupted over demands for constitutional and governance reforms. At least nine people, including three policemen, were killed during the unrest. The JAAC, which organised the protests and strike, had presented a wide-ranging charter of demands, including an end to the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees, and the scrapping of the quota system. Two days after the violence, the government and the JAAC reached an agreement covering 12 core and 13 additional points. Under the accord, both sides agreed to constitute a high-level committee to examine the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

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Man shot dead on way to court

A 22-year-old man was shot dead by armed assailants while on his way to attend a court hearing in Kabirwala, allegedly as a result of a long-standing tribal feud. The deceased, identified as Mursaleen Tayyab Hanjra, came under attack near Jhandeer Kassi in the jurisdiction of Nawan Shehr Police Station. Police and family sources said more than eight armed suspects allegedly ambushed him and opened fire with Kalashnikovs and rifles, leaving him critically injured. The attackers reportedly fled the scene towards the Mamdal area after the shooting. The incident is said to be linked to an old rivalry between the Hanjra and Kartwana communities in the Head Sardar Pur area, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sarai Sidhu Police Station in Kabirwala police circle. Family members immediately called Rescue 1122 for medical assistance. However, Mursaleen Tayyab succumbed to his injuries before help could arrive. On the complaint of the victim's father, Muhammad Tayyab Hanjra, Nawan Shehr Police registered a case against the nominated suspects, identified as Muhammad Hanif Kartwana, Muhammad Asif Kartwana, Muhammad Kashif Kartwana, Qaiser, Sagheer Ahmed, Abdul Razzaq and Muhammad Bilal, along with other unidentified accomplices. Following the killing, members of the Hanjra community staged a protest by placing the victim's body on Multan Road outside the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital in Kabirwala. The demonstration continued for nearly two hours, causing traffic disruption and drawing a large crowd. The protesters chanted slogans against DSP Kabirwala Chaudhry Munawar Gujjar and the SHO of Sarai Sidhu Police Station, accusing police of failing to act against proclaimed offenders allegedly associated with the rival group. The victim's relatives claimed that wanted suspects frequently remained present in residential areas of Muhammad Pur Nasheb and Sardar Pur but were not arrested despite police being aware of their whereabouts. They alleged that timely action by law enforcement could have prevented the killing. The victim's mother and other family members were seen mourning during the protest and demanded arrest of the suspects. The bereaved family appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the Inspector General of Police Punjab to ensure the arrest of the accused and take action against those responsible for negligence. Police said investigations are underway and efforts are being made to arrest the suspects named in the case.

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Water crisis hits 14 Pindi localities

A severe water crisis has emerged in 14 localities at the Rawalpindi-Islamabad border after the Capital Development Authority (CDA) revoked No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for 20 tube wells and water borings installed with official permission in areas from Faizabad to Koral Chowk and adjoining localities. Residents have been deprived of water for the last three days, triggering protests by women, children and other residents. Private water tanker operators have raised prices, with small tankers now selling for Rs2,500 and large tankers for Rs3,500. Local philanthropists collected donations and purchased large tankers to distribute water free of cost. WASA and the district administration have been accused of remaining absent from the situation. CDA revoked NOCs of 15 tube wells operated by the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA). Four tube wells established during former president Pervez Musharraf's tenure through Asian Development Bank support and operated by a community-based NGO were also shut down and their equipment seized. The closure has completely halted water supply in Rahmatabad, Ghareebabad Blocks A, B, C and D, Gulrez, Jabbar Colony, Banaras Colony, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Mumtaz Colony, Nayyar Colony, Chaklala, Dhoke Munshi and adjoining informal settlements, forcing residents to search for water with containers in hand. According to the WASA Managing Director, 15 tube wells costing Rs1.16 billion were planned along Islamabad Expressway service roads under a Punjab government project. Nine have been completed and six are under construction, but IESCO has yet to provide electricity connections. Although CDA later restored the NOCs, implementation has not taken place. Residents said four tube wells installed in 2002 with support from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and Japan had supplied water on a no-profit, no-loss basis through a community-based operator. After nearly 26 years, their permits were revoked and machinery confiscated. NOCs for private household borings were also cancelled, with operations, challans and fines initiated against residents. WASA says water supply can resume within 24 hours if electricity connections are provided to its completed tube wells. A CDA spokesperson maintained that the land falls within Islamabad's jurisdiction and cannot be used by another district without its approval. Hundreds of men and women led by Haider Ali, Yasir Bhatti, Raja Nasir, Amjad Ali Shah and Fayyaz Khan staged protests and warned that if water is not restored within 24 hours, sit-ins will be held outside the offices of the commissioner, deputy commissioner and WASA. Residents said Federal Parliamentary Secretary Daniyal Chaudhry had approved two additional tube wells for the area, but work has not yet begun. PTI MPA Tanveer Aslam also raised the issue in the Punjab Assembly, where the government suggested waiting until 2029 for a new dam project. Residents have appealed to the prime minister, interior minister, chief minister and commissioner for immediate intervention.

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Govt decides to end fuel subsidies after sharp decline in global oil prices

Owing to a sharp decline in global fuel prices, the government on Monday decided to discontinue fuel subsidies provided to motorcyclists, small farmers and public transport. The development comes after recent reductions in petroleum prices, under which petrol was cut by Rs74 per litre and diesel by Rs67 per litre, bringing them down to Rs299 per litre and Rs311 per litre respectively, following a decline in the international market after the US and Iran reached an agreement to end a conflict that had lasted over three months. The decision was taken during the seventh meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired the 7th meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy. The Committee reviewed the rollout of fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, small farmers, public transport & goods transport in… pic.twitter.com/I4X55tPKNV — Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) June 22, 2026 The committee reviewed the rollout of fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, small farmers, public transport and goods transport across all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Noting the sharp decline in global fuel prices and that the benefit had already been passed on to consumers, the committee agreed to discontinue the subsidy, with the prime minister’s approval. While appreciating the committee’s work marked by sustained interprovincial coordination, the deputy prime minister directed that lessons learnt from the exercise be documented and gaps in data and delivery be addressed to strengthen future initiatives aimed at improving public service delivery. Also Read: Govt disburses Rs38b in fuel subsidy The meeting was attended by SAPM Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries of petroleum and IT, the State Bank of Pakistan governor and senior representatives from all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Following the oil price surge in the global market after the US-Iran conflict, the government significantly increased petroleum product prices after initially deciding to absorb the burden. At one point, petrol prices had reached Rs458 per litre in April this year. However, days later, the prime minister announced an immediate Rs80 per litre reduction in the petroleum levy to provide relief to the public. While announcing the relief, the prime minister also unveiled a fuel subsidy package aimed at shielding the public from rising fuel costs triggered by tensions in the Gulf region. Under that initiative, motorcyclists were to receive a subsidy of Rs100 per litre, while goods transport, public transport and freight vehicles were also provided support for one month. Under the same relief measures, small trucks were given Rs70,000 per month, large trucks Rs80,000 and public transport buses Rs100,000 as monthly subsidies. The initiative also included support for small farmers, who were provided Rs1,500 per acre in assistance.

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G-B power deal raises democratic concerns

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) may have agreed to form a government in Gilgit-Baltistan and finalised a power-sharing formula, but PML-N's decision to sit on the opposition benches while supporting the government has drawn criticism from leading political analysts, who described the arrangement as a bizarre proposition and a mockery of parliamentary norms. Former caretaker Punjab chief minister Hasan Askari Rizvi said a leader of the opposition belonging to the government is akin to making a mockery of the parliamentary system. "This is a personalised rule, though there is no authority that can check such distortions. It is interesting that the three major players in G-B are allies in the central government in Islamabad. That says everything about this current hybrid system." Commenting on the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), Rizvi noted that despite failing to win a single seat in Gilgit-Baltistan, the party effectively received five seats after independent candidates joined its ranks. He said the gift of seats should not be overinterpreted, as the party was unlikely to receive similar political gains elsewhere in the country. Independents joining a relatively unknown party at a time when both the ruling party and one of its principal allies were fully active in the electoral arena was, in his view, an extremely rare occurrence and virtually unprecedented in Pakistani politics. Senior journalist and political commentator Mazhar Hussain said that when the ruling alliance itself makes no secret of the hybrid nature of the system, no political development, regardless of how unusual, should come as a surprise. "Democracy only exists in name" Recalling the political developments of 1992, he said Muzaffar Hussain Shah became chief minister of Sindh despite the PPP holding the majority, followed by the MQM. "He interestingly was from neither of two." He argued that discussing democratic norms and ethics had become largely pointless. "We have political parties, elections and parliament but no democracy." Regarding the IPP, Hussain said he believed the party had been awarded these seats by the powers that be as a counterweight to the PPP. "To ensure that PPP functions as per their whims, for in-case-otherwise situation, an alliance with remaining parties to bringing in a new government, is a threat that they have left dangling on PPP's head." Political scientist and Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) President Ahmad Bilal Mehboob said PML-N's decision to occupy the opposition benches effectively deprives genuine opposition members of their voice, as its alliance with the government also makes it a partner in the incoming administration. He observed that such situations can arise in democracies, although they remain politically contentious. Commenting on the IPP, Mehboob said so-called "king's parties" have historically benefited from such political advantages, adding that there was nothing particularly surprising about the development in countries like Pakistan. He said the political windfall would enhance the IPP's stature across the country and demonstrated that the party continued to enjoy relevance within influential power circles.

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Child's death exposes flood safety lapses

The tragic death of a nine-year-old boy, who drowned after falling into an uncovered stormwater drain during the season's first pre-monsoon rainfall, has exposed serious shortcomings in flood preparedness and public safety measures across Rawalpindi. The victim, Wisal, fell into a rainwater drain approximately 10 feet deep and seven feet wide near Kacha Stop on Khalid Bin Waleed Road in the Westridge-III area, where the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad meet. He was swept away by the fast-flowing water during heavy rainfall. Wisal's funeral was held in his ancestral village in Mohmand Agency, Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Saturday. According to residents and shopkeepers, the drain, which runs for nearly half a kilometre alongside a busy market, has neither protective railings nor a concrete cover. They claim motorcyclists and pedestrians frequently fall into the drain because of the lack of safety barriers, although most escape unharmed when water levels are low. During the heavy downpour, however, the drain was flowing at full capacity, leaving the child little chance of survival. The latest incident has also raised concerns over the emergency response. According to sources, rescue teams searched a 500-foot stretch of the drain using five-foot bamboo poles and mobile phone flashlights, reportedly lacking essential equipment such as high-powered torches, specialised rescue machinery and protective gear. A survey of the surrounding area conducted by The Express Tribune found that numerous manholes remained uncovered, with some measuring up to 20 feet in depth. In addition, officials said that none of the city's 15 seasonal drainage channels had undergone comprehensive desilting or clearance before the onset of the monsoon. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that rescue agencies had not received adequate funding, machinery or equipment over the past five years despite repeated requests, warning that similar tragedies could occur unless urgent improvements are made. In response to the incident and the approaching monsoon season, the 111 Brigade of the Pakistan Army has been placed on red alert until August 15. An Army major will oversee operations from the Central Flood Control Room, while military teams equipped with life jackets, high-powered rescue boats, ropes and modern rescue equipment will remain on standby. Army teams are also scheduled to inspect vulnerable locations along the 18-kilometre Nullah Lai and other seasonal drains next week. Rawalpindi Commissioner Aamir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema will accompany military representatives during the inspection. The Army will continue monitoring identified high-risk locations throughout the flood season. Meanwhile, five flood relief camps are expected to be established next week as part of the city's monsoon preparedness plan.

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SC orders protection of female students

The Supreme Court has ordered all inspectors general of police (IGPs) to devise and implement effective mechanisms for the protection of girls attending schools, colleges, and universities, particularly regarding complaints of harassment, stalking, and other offences. In an 18-page judgment authored by Justice Salahuddin Panhwar while hearing an appeal against a death sentence awarded to a sweeper for raping a 10-year-old schoolgirl, the court emphasized that such complaints must be treated seriously, investigated promptly, and acted upon without delay. The judgment, a copy of which was also circulated to all high courts, lower courts, federal and provincial law officers, and all IGPs, directed that visible patrolling must be ensured around educational institutions, public transport facilities, bus stops, and routes used by female students. "All Provincial Inspectors General of Police and the Inspector General, Islamabad Capital Territory Police, shall devise and implement effective mechanisms for the protection of girls attending schools, colleges, and universities. "Particular attention shall be paid to complaints of harassment under Section 509 PPC, stalking, and other precursor offences against women and children. Such complaints shall be treated seriously, investigated promptly, and acted upon without delay. "Visible patrolling shall be ensured around educational institutions, public transport facilities, bus stops, and routes commonly used by female students. Preventive policing, rather than post-crime reaction, must become the governing principle in matters affecting the safety of girls," it stated. The court lamented that a child of merely ten years was not safe even within a school environment, a place expected to provide security, learning, and protection, and instead became a victim of sexual violence. It said the case compelled the court to examine the broader question of safety for girls in educational institutions and during their commute, stating that acts of harassment, stalking, intimidation, and sexual misconduct often begin with conduct already recognized as criminal under law. It noted that Section 509 PPC criminalizes conduct intended to insult the modesty of a woman, invade her privacy, or subject her to harassment, adding that the provision also places an obligation on law enforcement agencies to respond promptly and effectively. The court stressed that early police intervention at the harassment stage may prevent escalation into more serious offences. "If a child is not secure in an educational institution, or while travelling to and from it, the constitutional promise of education, dignity, equality, and personal security becomes illusory," it added. The judgment further held that the state's obligation is not limited to establishing educational institutions but extends equally to ensuring that girls can attend them free from fear, intimidation, harassment, and violence. On medico-legal infrastructure, the court observed that the quality of medico-legal examination, documentation, and testimony is critical in sexual offence prosecutions and depends on a trained, dedicated, and properly resourced medico-legal service. It referred to the Sindh Medico Legal Act, 2023 as a legislative model providing for a regulated medico-legal service, a directorate for its administration, and criteria for appointment of medico-legal officers. The judgment suggested that the federal and provincial governments may adopt similar frameworks to establish a dedicated medico-legal cadre with structured training in forensic examination of sexual violence victims, adequate appointment of women medical officers, and coordination with forensic science agencies. The court directed the Attorney General for Pakistan, all provincial advocate generals, health departments, and police authorities to consider the observations for implementation in accordance with law.

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