AJK govt officials say armed men, Fitna al-Khawarij operatives present at JAAC protests

Senior officials of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government have accused the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of harbouring armed men and elements of Fitna-al-Khwarij, vowing that the state will maintain its writ at all costs.

Speaking to the media during a press conference, AJK Information Secretary Rashid Hanif said that armed people and elements linked to Fitna al-Khawarij had joined the JAAC protests. He said that protesters were using women and children as human shield and urged citizens not to believe unverified information circulating on social media. 

Rashid said that peaceful elections in Mirpur Division had foiled the designs of the JAAC. 

A senior officer of the AJK Police, who accompanied the information secretary at the press conference, said people were carrying modern weapons at JAAC protests, including M4 rifles, SMGs and Kalashnikovs. He said the police have credible reports that snipers were also present among the protesters. 

The DIG said that people arrested from JAAC protests were offered cash for carrying out attacks. He said an armed man was arrested in Rawalakot with an M8 weapon, adding that initial information suggested the suspect had received sniper training abroad.

He said that a Rangers soldier and five others were wounded when armed men among the protesters opened fire on them. He said that security forces showed maximum restraint and responded only in self-defence. He said that no one would be allowed to challenge the state’s writ or take the law into their hands.