MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has withdrawn a series of legal protections and amnesty measures previously granted to members of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), ordering the restoration of 177 criminal cases linked to past protest movements.
The move comes days after the AJK administration declared the JKJAAC a banned organization under anti-terrorism laws, accusing it of activities that allegedly threatened public order and state security. The decision marks a significant escalation in tensions between the government and the protest group following recent violent confrontations.
According to an official notification issued by the AJK Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department, four executive orders that had provided legal relief to protesters have now been withdrawn. As a result, criminal proceedings that were previously suspended or dismissed are set to be reactivated.
The government maintains that the decision was prompted by the JKJAAC’s alleged violation of a peace agreement signed on October 4, 2025. Under that accord, authorities had agreed to address several economic and civil demands raised by the committee through institutional dialogue and a dedicated implementation mechanism.
As part of the agreement, the AJK government had withdrawn 177 First Information Reports (FIRs), released detained activists, and provided compensation to affected families. Officials argue that subsequent protests, road blockades, and public demonstrations bypassed the agreed framework for negotiations.
A senior government official stated that organizing street agitation instead of engaging through the implementation committee constituted a breach of the agreement, leading authorities to rescind the legal concessions granted under the settlement.
The latest development follows deadly clashes in Rawalakot between protesters and law enforcement personnel. The violence reportedly claimed the lives of at least seven civilians and four security officials, further deepening the political crisis in the region.
Government sources confirmed that the Inspector General of Police and relevant judicial authorities have been directed to immediately reopen all agitation-related cases associated with the now-proscribed organization.
Key Notifications Withdrawn
The revoked notifications formed the backbone of a broader reconciliation package introduced between late 2024 and late 2025.
One notification had withdrawn a controversial public order ordinance restricting unregistered organizations from staging protests. Another established a legal framework for suspending prosecutions against protest leaders following the 2025 peace accord.
Additional orders facilitated the release of detained activists and reinstated government employees who had been suspended or dismissed for supporting or participating in JKJAAC-led demonstrations.
With the cancellation of these decrees, authorities have effectively reversed the amnesty package and reinstated the legal consequences that had previously been suspended under the peace arrangement.
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