The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has placed a Rs10 million bounty on four leaders of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) following violent clashes that left at least seven people dead. Authorities also arrested five suspects in a Muzaffarabad intelligence-based operation, where security forces reportedly seized automatic weapons, grenades, and documents allegedly linking the group to foreign intelligence agencies.
Why the AJK government issued the bounty
The AJK government announced the Rs10 million reward on Tuesday for information leading to the arrest of Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Umar Nazir Kashmiri, Khawaja Mehran Arshad, and Sardar Aman Khan. According to an official notification, the Home Department has directed the inspector general of police to implement the reward scheme immediately, promising that informant identities will remain confidential. The government proscribed the JAAC last week, citing the group’s alleged involvement in terrorism, the promotion of hatred, and the creation of anarchy following a call for protests on June 9.
Conflicting accounts of the recent violence
The death toll and cause of the recent unrest remain a point of sharp disagreement between official sources and the JAAC. AJK police report that four law enforcement personnel and three JAAC-linked individuals died during clashes in Rawalakot on Sunday. Police officials allege that armed JAAC members initiated a planned attack on security forces outside the Combined Military Hospital. Conversely, the JAAC claims on X that seven individuals were killed when security forces opened fire in the dark after an alleged power outage. This follows a pattern of instability; the region saw at least nine deaths during protests in October 2023, which resulted in a short-lived agreement between the government and the group.
Internal divisions and the path to negotiation
Internal support for the JAAC appears to be shifting as the movement faces increased pressure. Key member Syed Faisal Gilani publicly announced his disassociation from the group on Tuesday, condemning what he described as a “festival of blood” in Rawalakot. Despite this, other leaders, including Umar Nazir Kashmiri, have stated they will not surrender. AJK Prime Minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has repeatedly called for a return to the negotiating table, noting that the government is willing to discuss governance grievances, such as the 12 legislative seats reserved for refugees. However, the JAAC has remained critical of the government, boycotting a recent All Parties Conference and describing proposed solutions as “trivial.”
What happens next
The situation remains volatile as the July 27 election date approaches. Investigators are currently performing forensic and technical analysis on digital devices and communication equipment seized during the Muzaffarabad raid. Authorities have indicated they are expanding their probe to identify financial backers and broader facilitation networks. If the government maintains its zero-tolerance policy, further arrests are likely. Meanwhile, the JAAC continues to claim that supporters are gathering for its protest calls, suggesting a potential for continued confrontation if the deadlock over political rights and constitutional reforms persists.
