News Desk
MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has reinstated 177 First Information Reports (FIRs) against members of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), reversing earlier decisions that had withdrawn protest-related cases under a political agreement, officials said on Thursday.
The move marks a renewed escalation in tensions following recent unrest in the region, which has been marked by competing claims over casualties, governance grievances and political legitimacy.
According to official sources, at least seven people have been killed in recent clashes, though figures remain disputed between authorities and the JAAC. The government said the decision to restore the FIRs was taken after determining that the JAAC had violated the October 4, 2025 agreement between the two sides by returning to street protests instead of engaging through the agreed implementation mechanism.
A notification issued by the Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department in Muzaffarabad confirmed that earlier orders withdrawing protest-related cases had been revoked following a cabinet decision taken in its 41st meeting on June 5, 2026. Officials said departments including police and the judiciary had been directed to proceed with legal action in the reinstated cases.
The FIRs relate to protests held in September and October 2025, when the JAAC led a campaign demanding governance reforms, including changes to the refugee representation system, abolition of elite privileges and reforms to the quota structure. Those demonstrations escalated into violent confrontations with security forces, leaving multiple people dead, including both civilians and police personnel, according to official accounts.
The JAAC has previously led large-scale protests across AJK, with demands focused on political and economic reforms. The group was later banned by the government, which accused it of promoting unrest and acting against state institutions. The JAAC has rejected those allegations. The latest decision also reverses earlier relief granted under a political settlement reached in October 2025, which had led to the withdrawal of several FIRs. However, cases linked to fatalities during the unrest remain under judicial process.
Tensions in the region have remained high since last year’s protests, which triggered political instability and renewed debate over governance structures and refugee representation in the AJK legislative system. The situation continues to evolve as authorities maintain that legal proceedings will move forward, while the JAAC continues to contest official accounts of the unrest.
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