AJK govt bans Joint Awami Action Committee, notification issued

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Home Department has issued a notification declaring the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a banned organisation under the region’s anti-terrorism laws, ARY News reported.

According to the notification, organisations operating under the names “Jammu Kashmir Action Committee” and “Joint Awami Action Committee” have been placed in the First Schedule under the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act 2014.

The notification states that the decision was approved by the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, formally declaring the group as a proscribed organisation.

It further alleges that there is sufficient material indicating involvement in activities that could undermine peace and public safety, including creating unrest and disturbing law and order in the region.

The government stated that the organisation was found involved in spreading fear among the public and creating a sense of insecurity in society. It also accused the group of promoting hatred and attempting to disrupt state stability.

Under Section 12 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2014, the organisation and its alternate names have been formally listed as banned, according to the notification.

The Home Department has also included all alternative names of the organisation in the notification to prevent its operation under different titles.

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Copies of the notification have been dispatched to federal and provincial authorities, including the Ministry of Interior, as well as the President, Prime Minister, Chief Secretary, and other senior officials of AJK.

Directives have also been issued to all Deputy Commissioners, SSPs, CTD, and Special Branch units, as well as divisional administrations in Muzaffarabad, Poonch, and Mirpur.

Authorities said the decision aims to ensure law and order, public safety, and state stability, adding that no organisation will be allowed to threaten peace or security in the region.

AJK government warns Joint Awami Action Committee

Earlier, the 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.