AJK revokes legal protections for JAAC protesters, restores 177 criminal cases

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has revoked a series of legal protections and amnesty measures previously granted to members and supporters of the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), restoring 177 criminal cases that had earlier been withdrawn under a peace agreement.

According to an official notification issued by the AJK Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department, the government has withdrawn four executive orders that had provided legal relief and protection to JKJAAC activists. The move follows the AJK government’s decision on June 5 to declare the organisation proscribed under anti-terrorism laws, accusing it of engaging in activities detrimental to state security and public order.

The decision comes in the wake of recent violent clashes in Rawalakot, where at least seven civilians and four security personnel lost their lives during confrontations between protesters and law enforcement agencies.

Government officials said the withdrawal of legal concessions was prompted by what they described as the JKJAAC’s violation of a peace accord signed on October 4, 2025. Under the agreement, the government had pledged to address the group’s economic and civic concerns through an implementation committee, while the organisation was expected to pursue its demands through institutional dialogue rather than public agitation.

Authorities stated that the government had fulfilled its commitments under the accord by withdrawing 177 First Information Reports (FIRs), releasing detained activists and providing compensation to affected families. However, officials alleged that the group abandoned the agreed mechanism and resorted to protests, road blockades and public demonstrations, actions they said amounted to a breach of the agreement.

A senior government official said that bypassing the implementation committee and returning to street agitation violated the spirit and terms of the accord, leading to the withdrawal of all previously granted legal relief.

Following the latest decision, the AJK Inspector General of Police and relevant judicial authorities have been directed to reopen all pending cases linked to previous protest movements and proceed with legal action where necessary.

The withdrawn notifications had formed the core of a broader reconciliation package offered to the group between 2024 and 2025. One notification had rescinded a public order ordinance restricting unregistered organisations from staging protests, while another established a legal framework for withdrawing criminal cases against protest leaders following the October 2025 agreement.

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Additional notifications had authorised the release of detained activists and facilitated the reinstatement of government employees who had been suspended or dismissed for participating in or supporting JKJAAC demonstrations.

With the cancellation of these measures, authorities say all previously suspended legal proceedings stand restored, effectively reactivating criminal charges against members and supporters of the now-banned organisation. The government maintains that the action is necessary to uphold law and order and enforce the terms of agreements reached with protest groups through constitutional and legal channels.