Summary
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif has said that seven law enforcement personnel, including police and Rangers officials, were martyred during the recent unrest in the region.
- The AJK information secretary also alleged that police and Rangers vehicles were damaged and burned during the unrest.
- The information secretary also highlighted previous incidents involving casualties among law enforcement personnel, claiming that one police official was martyred in 2024 and three others in October 2025 during unrest-related incidents.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif has said that seven law enforcement personnel, including police and Rangers officials, were martyred during the recent unrest in the region.
In a televised address on Monday, Hanif said the casualties occurred during clashes linked to ongoing protests by the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The committee has been demonstrating in the region for several weeks over its demand to abolish 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-held Kashmir.
The unrest intensified after clashes between protesters and security personnel in Rawalakot and Mirpur last week. The incidents reportedly resulted in multiple casualties and increased tensions across the region.
Hanif stated that weapons allegedly recovered from JAAC members were presented during a previous press conference by a police official on July 27. He claimed that seven law enforcement personnel were killed using similar weapons, while 45 personnel suffered serious injuries and several others sustained minor injuries.
The AJK information secretary also alleged that police and Rangers vehicles were damaged and burned during the unrest. He claimed that the incidents indicated the presence of armed elements within the banned organization and accused them of attempting to challenge the state’s authority and disrupt peace.
Responding to allegations made by JAAC regarding events in Rawalakot and surrounding areas between July 27 and July 31, Hanif rejected the claims and described them as part of a misinformation campaign. He said the security institutions of AJK had shown restraint and professionalism while handling the law and order situation.
Hanif denied allegations of unprovoked firing by security forces and rejected claims that bodies were being withheld. He stated that the government currently had no bodies in its custody and accused the organization of spreading misleading information through social media.
He further alleged that JAAC activists had been involved in blocking and damaging vehicles carrying essential supplies and food items.
The information secretary also highlighted previous incidents involving casualties among law enforcement personnel, claiming that one police official was martyred in 2024 and three others in October 2025 during unrest-related incidents.
Meanwhile, the AJK government criticized international media reports regarding the clashes, describing some coverage as biased and incomplete. Officials said reports should have included the government’s position and verified information before publication.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also criticized coverage of the AJK elections by some media outlets, alleging selective reporting from specific polling locations.
The situation in AJK remains tense as authorities continue security measures while political and public disputes over electoral representation and governance issues continue. The government and protest groups have presented conflicting accounts of the events, and further developments are expected as investigations proceed.
