What happened
The government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday declared the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation, placing the alliance in the First Schedule of the region’s anti-terrorism law, days before a planned region-wide protest.
The notification, issued by the AJK Home Department, said the group is “engaged in terrorism” and has acted in a manner “prejudicial to peace and security” of the state. It further stated that JAAC is involved in “creating anarchy in the State by intimidating the public, promoting hatred, and creating a sense of insecurity in society and the public at large”.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred under section 12 of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014, the President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir has accorded approval to list the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC), also known by names such as Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and Awami Action Committee (AAC) etc, in the First Schedule of ATA, 2014, Proscribed Organization for the purpose of the said Act,” the notification read.
The group is also known as the Joint Awami Action Committee and the Awami Action Committee.
Context
JAAC had announced a strike for 9 June, the same date the AJK Election Commission has scheduled for candidates to begin filing nomination papers for the general elections set for 27 July. The alliance’s latest protest call centres on its demand to abolish the 12 seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. JAAC alleges the seats are used by mainstream Pakistani parties to influence the formation of governments in Muzaffarabad.
The group has previously organised large-scale protests over economic issues and political rights, some of which turned violent and resulted in fatalities during clashes with law enforcement in May 2024 and September 2025. Late in May, nine hours of talks between a federal team and JAAC ended without a breakthrough, with the strike still on.
Why it matters
According to the programme announced by the alliance, a region-wide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was to begin on 9 June, with marches from Bhimber and Mirpur toward Rawalakot via Kotli, and participants from Mirpur and Poonch divisions proceeding to Muzaffarabad on 10 June. The campaign was to culminate in an indefinite sit-in outside the Legislative Assembly. It was not immediately clear how the plan would be affected by the proscription.
Also on Friday, the AJK government issued a travel advisory urging tourists and other visitors to avoid the region between 5 and 20 June, and asked those already there to leave by Friday evening. The AJK police chief had formally requested 14,000 additional federal personnel to secure the territory from 7 to 21 June, and video footage circulated on Friday showed convoys of security personnel entering Muzaffarabad. The University of AJK postponed its spring 2026 term examinations, due to begin on 8 June, until further orders.
KhabarWire reported the breakdown of the centre-JAAC talks here.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting and official statements, not independent reporting. Details and quotations are as carried by the cited sources, which were reviewed on 2026-06-05.
- Dawn — "AJK govt bans Joint Awami Action Committee under anti-terrorism act"5 June 2026 · Reports the notification, the reserve-seats dispute, the travel advisory and the security build-up.
- The News — "AJK proscribes JAAC under anti-terrorism law for 'creating anarchy'"5 June 2026 · Carries the Home Department notification and the protest timeline.
- Geo News — "AJK govt declares JAAC banned outfit under anti-terrorism law"5 June 2026 · Reports the proscription and the June 9 protest call.
