The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has announced a strike and long march on June 9, amid ongoing tensions over its demands and negotiations with the government.
According to officials, despite what they described as serious efforts by the government to engage in dialogue, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has maintained its protest call and adopted what authorities termed a rigid stance. Government sources alleged that the committee is attempting to pressure the administration through street protests under the pretext of public issues, questioning the intent behind what they described as disruptive political activity.
While reiterating that peaceful protest is a democratic right, officials stressed that blocking roads and disrupting public life would not be permitted. They said all political stakeholders in AJK, including opposition parties, appear aligned against the politics of agitation. Authorities further said that the resolutions of the All Parties Conference, later endorsed by the Azad Kashmir Assembly, reflect a broader democratic consensus. They warned that any attempt to disturb law and order would be dealt with strictly under the law.
Officials also said that disrupting the electoral process on June 9 would not serve public interests but would instead undermine democratic procedures. They urged citizens to place trust in voting, dialogue, and constitutional means rather than pressure-based politics by Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
The government maintained that it has kept channels of negotiation open, but accused the JAAC of opting for confrontation instead of constructive engagement.
Meanwhile, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has said that the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) is prioritising pressure-based street politics over flexibility and dialogue, warning that any attempt to disrupt public order on June 9 will be dealt with under the law.
An AJK government spokesperson said JAAC has opted for confrontation instead of constructive engagement, adding that roads cannot be blocked or public life paralysed under the guise of protest. The spokesperson reiterated that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, taking the law into one’s own hands is not acceptable.
The spokesperson further warned that any attempt to disturb law and order or create chaos in the name of agitation would invite legal action. He said Azad Kashmir requires stability, dialogue, and practical solutions rather than prolonged protest politics.
Referring to the planned activity on June 9, the spokesperson said that obstructing the electoral process would not serve public rights but would instead undermine democratic procedures. Citizens, he added, should rely on voting, dialogue, and constitutional mechanisms rather than pressure tactics.
The government maintained that it has kept its doors open for negotiations and has pursued implementation and relief measures. However, it alleged that JAAC has continued its protest despite what it described as significant progress on demands, including the acceptance of a majority of issues raised. The spokesperson also said that out of 38 demands, 35 have reportedly been addressed, and insisted that continued agitation despite this progress reflects political rigidity rather than public interest.