{"id":127321,"date":"2026-06-10T11:01:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T06:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/?p=127321"},"modified":"2026-06-10T11:01:32","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T06:01:32","slug":"sedition-cases-head-money-against-jaac-leaders-ordered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/127321\/","title":{"rendered":"Sedition cases, \u2018head money\u2019 against JAAC leaders ordered"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MUZAFFARABAD(National Times)- Parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) remained in the throes of a crippling shutter-down strike on Tuesday, which was punctuated by clashes between law enforcers and supporters of the recently-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AJK government has issued orders to initiate sedition proceedings against two JAAC figures, and also announced a Rs10 million reward for information leading to the arrest of four of the group leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore urged a return to the negotiating table in a bid to end the tensions that have gripped the region over the past few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/2006082\">clashes<\/a>&nbsp;occurred when protesters from different areas of Mirpur division, comprising Mirpur, Bhimber and Kotli districts, took out rallies in line with the JAAC\u2019s plan, envisaging a long march towards neighbouring Poonch division, en route to Muzaffarabad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the lakeside city of Mirpur, hundreds gathered outside the Quaid-i-Azam Cricket Stadium. They later began marching towards Plaak bridge, where they were reportedly joined by another rally from Dadyal, led by Khawaja Mehran Arshad at the border of Kotli district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the outskirts of Mirpur, two policemen and some protesters were injured in a brief clash in Pind Sabharwal village, an official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, most violent clashes took place in Kotli city, after a procession of hundreds arrived there from Khuiratta tehsil. Though officials remained tight-lipped, residents and members of the AJK cabinet told Dawn \u2014 on condition of anonymity \u2014 that several people, including a doctor and a woman, were killed and scores of others wounded in the clashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to initial reports, the doctor was on the roof of his home when he was hit by a stray bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The strike and the ongoing closure of internet and mobile data services in the region has made it difficult to obtain real-time information from AJK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier in the day, all cities, towns and villages across AJK observed a complete shutter down strike. Even the banks, medical stores and bistros were closed and public and private transport off the roads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, in many areas motorcycles and a few private cars were occasionally seen moving through the streets without any disturbance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Muzaffarabad \u2013 the ultimate destination of protesters \u2013 riot police had taken positions in and outside government buildings and main thoroughfares to meet any eventuality. However, the capital remained completely calm on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the AJK legal fraternity boycotted judicial proceedings on a call by the AJK Bar Council, to protest the alleged arrest of senior lawyer Amjad Ali Khan, a core member of the JAAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Action against JAAC leaders<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AJK government issued orders to initiating sedition proceedings against JAAC leaders Shaukat Nawaz Mir, resident of Muzaffarabad, and Mehran Arshad Khawaja, resident of Mirpur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A notification issued by the AJK Home Department accused both leaders of committing \u201csedition through their speeches, written material, videos and audios\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government has issued instructions to the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad senior superintendents of police (SSPs) under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to review the available records\/materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also directed the SSPs to register a case against Mir and Khawaja, and submit a charge-sheet in court after completing the investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two men were also among a group of four JAAC figures for whom \u2018head money\u2019 of Rs10m was announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe president of Azad Jammu &amp; Kashmir has been pleased to fix Rs10m reward money to be granted to any person who provides information leading to the successful arrest of the following offenders belonging to the proscribed JAAC,\u201d said another notification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those named in the notification include Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Umar Nazir Kashmiri, Khawaja Mehran Arshad and Sardar Aman Khan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Five held over \u2018suspicious links\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan, law enforcement agencies arrested five suspects in an intelligence-based operation, seizing laptops, mobile phones, and various communication devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During interrogation, information provided by one of the detainees led to the recovery of a large cache of arms, including seven automatic weapons, multiple grenades, and other military hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to&nbsp;<em>APP<\/em>, investigators have uncovered evidence pointing to their alleged contact with hostile foreign intelligence agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2018Find a way out\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a post on X, the AJK premier reiterated his call for the issue to be resolved through talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPlease come back to the negotiating table. I\u2019m requesting everyone on daily basis to resolve matters through discussions instead of fire and blood,\u201d Rathore wrote on X.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He added that the protesters\u2019 \u201cabusive comments, constant threats and senseless agitation\u201d were not helpful to anyone in AJK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA political activist without the ability to debate and negotiate is like a pilot without the ability to fly an airplane. They both end up causing hurt and damage to people behind them,\u201d the PPP leader remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEveryone recognises your rights and liberties,\u201d the AJK PM assured, stressing that both sides needed to \u201cremain calm and find a way out through talks\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe only weapon a political activist carries is his reasoning and negotiation skills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rights bodies concerned<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Human rights watchdog Amnesty International expressed concern over the violent and sweeping crackdown on protests &#8211; including an internet shutdown, mass arbitrary arrests, and deadly use of force \u2013 and called on the authorities to take immediate steps to deescalate the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Separately, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said it was \u201cdeeply concerned by the escalating confrontation\u201d in AJK and the loss of life among both protesters and law enforcement personnel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MUZAFFARABAD(National Times)- Parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) remained in the throes of a crippling shutter-down strike on Tuesday, which was punctuated by clashes between law enforcers and supporters of the recently-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The AJK government has issued orders to initiate sedition proceedings against two JAAC figures, and also announced [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":127322,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Sedition cases, \u2018head money\u2019 against JAAC leaders ordered - Nation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/127321\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sedition cases, \u2018head money\u2019 against JAAC leaders ordered - Nation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"MUZAFFARABAD(National Times)- Parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) remained in the throes of a crippling shutter-down strike on Tuesday, which was punctuated by clashes between law enforcers and supporters of the recently-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). 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