Islamabad/ Muzaffarabad – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said Tuesday that elements trying to damage the Kashmir cause will not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious designs.
Accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary in Islamabad, the information minister was speaking about the disruptive activities of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), in Azad Kashmir. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police on Tuesday confirmed two security personnel were martyred during two days of violence.
The minister while addressing a news conference said this banned committee is trying to disrupt peace and order in the state as it could not stand the peaceful conduct of elections in which people actively and enthusiastically participated to use their right to vote.
He said this banned committee has nothing to do with peace, they are militants and stand fully exposed now. He referred to the news conference this evening by Secretary Information AJK and Police spokesperson of the State and said the federal government fully endorses the AJK government’s resolve to deal with this miscreant group.
He said this group will not be allowed at any cost to succeed in its anti-Kashmir agenda.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhary said the federal government will extend all-out support to AJK government for maintaining peace and order.
He said no one will be allowed to disrupt peaceful and democratic elections in AJK and prevent the people from using their democratic right to elect a government of their choice.
Banned group included militants: AJK govt
Earlier on Tuesday, the AJK government said that the banned JAAC attempted to disrupt the ongoing electoral process through acts of violence and unrest.
AJK Secretary Information Muhammad Rashid Hanif made the statement during a press conference in Muzaffarabad alongside AJK Police spokesperson DIG Irfan Masood Kashfi, following violent clashes between law enforcement personnel and banned JAAC protesters in Rawalakot amid continuing sit-ins.
Hanif said the state’s primary responsibility was to maintain law and order and assured that authorities would take all necessary measures to ensure public safety and the smooth conduct of elections.
The information secretary added that the banned group included armed individuals, militants and people linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, claiming that evidence of such involvement was available with state institutions. He urged citizens to remain cautious of what he described as misleading information being circulated about the protests.
Hanif further said that some elements within JAAC had used civilians as human shields during demonstrations. He added that public participation in the first phase of the AJK elections in Mirpur Division reflected the people’s preference for resolving disputes through peaceful and democratic channels.
DIG Kashfi said some protesters involved in the clashes were carrying modern and automatic weapons. He added that five police personnel, including an officer, were injured after coming under fire during the unrest.
The police spokesperson urged citizens to maintain contact with the administration and state institutions, saying public cooperation was essential for preserving peace and stability in the region.
On Sunday, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that security agencies had arrested a suspect allegedly involved in an India-linked digital influence campaign targeting Pakistan.
Tarar said the suspect was providing digital marketing services and that investigations had uncovered links between these activities and India.
He added that payments made for promoting anti-Pakistan content on social media were traced to sources in India. The minister had said the investigation had also exposed a network of bot farms allegedly being used to spread misinformation and amplify content targeting Pakistan’s sovereignty, government, armed forces and state institutions.
Tarar further claimed that during interrogation, the suspect revealed that a significant portion of the content being circulated through the network was linked to the activities of the proscribed JAAC in the AJK.
