The bar provides legal aid to individuals involved in violence if they go before the police
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday warned those involved in disturbances of peace, violence, damage to government property and loss of lives to immediately surrender and present themselves before the law, while assuring full legal assistance to those who do so.
Tensions have increased in AJK following recent deadly clashes that have given rise to conflicting narratives over casualties, governance grievances and political legitimacy. Official sources have confirmed at least seven deaths.
Officials said that despite allegations of peaceful intentions, some elements continued to engage in violent activity. The same elements, they added, have previously been involved in damage to public property and attacks that resulted in martyrdoms and injuries among security personnel.
Read: AJK reinstates 177 FIRs against JAAC members for violation of October 25 agreement
In a statement issued by AJK SCBA President Raja Aftab Ahmed Advocate, he said that those involved in armed attacks and acts prejudicing public order should surrender without delay.
He said: “Individuals involved in disturbing the peace, launching armed attacks, damaging government property and causing loss of life must immediately surrender and present themselves before the law. »
He added that those challenging the state mandate were not only endangering human lives but also committing a serious offense amounting to treason. He urged these people to surrender to the authorities, adding that the bar association would provide them with full legal assistance in the courts of Azad Kashmir.
Background
The recent unrest and deadly clashes in certain areas, notably in Rawalakot, where the recently banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had organized a sit-in in front of the Rawalakot Combined Military Hospital. AJK police say armed JAAC members opened fire on security forces deployed during a planned attack, leaving four people dead and around 20 injured. The JAAC, however, disputes this version, saying that security forces used tear gas and fired shells towards the hospital.
According to the AJK police, three individuals linked to the JAAC and four law enforcement personnel were killed during Sunday’s protests. The JAAC, however, said in a statement on
Sunday’s clash came as the AJK government and JAAC witnessed a face-off, with the election date for AJK announced for July 27.
Learn more: Some elements seeking to create instability within AJK despite repeated offers for dialogue: Rana Sanaullah
The 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly has 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, people who fled Indian-controlled Kashmir in 1947 and 1965 and are now scattered across Pakistan. Six seats represent refugees from the Jammu division (~434,000 people) and six from the Kashmir Valley (~30,000 people) – an already lopsided arrangement that many see as unfair.
The region experienced one of its most turbulent periods in October last year, when JAAC-led protests erupted demanding constitutional and governance reforms. At least nine people, including three police officers, were killed during the unrest.
The JAAC, which organized the protests and strike, had presented a broad charter of demands, including an end to the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, the removal of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees and the abolition of the quota system.
Two days after the violence, the government and the JAAC reached an agreement on 12 basic points and 13 additional points. Under the agreement, both sides agreed to constitute a high-level committee to look into the issue of refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
Learn more: Four policemen martyred, over 20 injured in Rawalakot shooting: AJK Police
The unrest also sparked political upheaval in the region. The PPP then moved a no-confidence resolution against the then Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz joining the effort. Haq, elected in April 2023 with 48 votes, chose to face the vote rather than resign.
On 17 November, Rathore received 36 votes in the elections and became the 16th Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
With elections approaching and the refugee seat issue still unresolved, the AJK government has convened an All Party Conference (APC) in Muzaffarabad to reach a consensus. Almost all major parties were present – except the PTI and JAAC, which boycotted it.
The JAAC’s position is that the government had already rejected its written proposals submitted on May 30 and therefore there would be no point in attending. He had proposed either maintaining token representation of refugees until the Kashmir conflict is finally resolved or replacing the 12 seats in the Assembly with 4 seats in the AJK Council – a body chaired by the Prime Minister, which he said would better preserve the political dimension of the Kashmir cause.
The APC rejected any changes outside the constitutional and legislative framework, saying only the elected assembly could change the distribution of refugee seats. The JAAC called the resolution “a page and a half of utterly trivial lines” and accused participants of coming together to serve their own interests rather than those of the public.
