The situation has become tense in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK). Shaukat Nawaz Mir, chief of Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which was recently banned by the government, has been arrested on Tuesday (June 30). Mir was arrested from Dhirkot area. Along with this, JAAC has also confirmed the arrest of Mir’s associate Saib Javed. Raja Sahib, the main member of JAAC, has also been arrested.
Pakistan forces have arrested JAAC leaders from Sangar Fattare on the outskirts of Dhirkot in PoK. The PoK government had announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for anyone giving information about him. He had called for a strike in PoK. The organization has said that the protest will continue until their demands are met. A reward of Rs 1 crore was announced.
How did the arrest happen?
Officials said the arrest was made during a joint operation conducted by police and district administration personnel based on intelligence reports. According to local officials, Shaukat Nawaz Mir was arrested when he was trying to reach the dharna organized by JAAC supporters. The arrest comes days after the AJK government banned the organization citing concerns over law and order and recent violent incidents related to protests in the area. Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Munir Qureshi confirmed Mir’s arrest. He said that on the basis of intelligence, the district administration and police conducted a joint operation and caught Mir from Dhirkotat.
JAAC allegation
JAAC alleges that Mir was going to join the ongoing dharna in Rawalakot when he was detained. The organization said that Mir’s presence would have boosted the morale of the people sitting in the protest, but the arrest of a leader would not weaken the movement. Despite the ban, the group has continued with their demonstrations and announced that their protest movement will continue until their demands are accepted. The organization accused the authorities of trying to weaken the movement by targeting its leadership.
‘Voice can be suppressed, resolution cannot’
JAAC issued a statement saying ‘A voice can be suppressed, but not a resolution. A person can be arrested, but not a movement’. The organization claimed that the entire nation stands with Mir and justice will prevail. JAAC appealed to the supporters not to lose courage. The statement said, ‘This is not just the movement of Shaukat Nawaz Mir, nor only of the core members. This is a movement of the entire people’ The organization said that arrests, raids and jails have been part of mass movements. Until Mir returns, the public will be his voice.
The ban was imposed after the death of 4 soldiers
Political tensions in Azad Kashmir have increased significantly in recent weeks following clashes between protesters and law enforcement agencies in several districts. The most serious clashes were reported from Rawalakot and surrounding areas, where protests and sit-ins were going on. Police officials alleged that the protesters attacked security personnel, resulting in the death of several officers and injuries to several others. JAAC was protesting outside the Combined Military Hospital of Rawalakot. PoK Police alleges that armed members of JAAC carried out a planned attack on the deployed policemen. 4 security personnel were killed and about 20 were injured in the firing.
JAAC rejected the claim
Whereas JAAC has rejected this claim. The organization says that security forces fired tear gas and shells towards the hospital. JAAC claimed that 7 people were killed and dozens were injured in the firing in the dark after the power cut. According to PoK Police, 3 people associated with JAAC and 4 security personnel were killed in the protest.
The unrest has raised concerns about the security situation in the region ahead of upcoming political developments. The standoff between the government and JAAC has intensified after the announcement of Azad Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections to be held on July 27.
JAAC has attracted considerable public attention in recent years through campaigns demanding political, constitutional and governance reforms.
What are the demands of JAAC?
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir has demanded ending the privileges of the political elite, reforming the electoral system and changing the distribution of reserved refugee seats in the Assembly. The organization has also demanded abolition of the quota system and increasing accountability in government institutions. After the earlier demonstrations, talks were held with the government and agreement was reached on many issues. But most of the demands are still unfulfilled. This has led to fresh tension and protests in the area.
In October last year too, there were big demonstrations in PoK under the leadership of JAAC. Nine people, including three policemen, were killed in protests demanding constitutional and governance reforms. JAAC had put forward several demands including ending the privileges of the ruling class, abolishing the 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees and canceling the quota system. Two days after the violence, the government and JAAC reached an agreement on 12 main and 13 additional points. Under this, it was agreed to form a high-level committee to investigate the issue of refugee seats in the PoK assembly. At present the situation in PoK is tense. Despite the ban on JAAC, the organization is continuing its protest and the movement is expected to intensify after Mir’s arrest.
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