AJK official says ongoing strike causes Rs15b in losses

WEB DESK: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government suffered losses of up to Rs15 billion during the month-long strikes staged by the banned Public Action Committee, which allegedly attempted to disrupt peace and stability in the region, officials said on Monday.

Information Secretary Rashid Hanif said during a joint press conference with Azad Kashmir Police officials that the state had suffered losses amounting to Rs15 billion over the past month due to the committee’s activities.

Hanif rejected claims that the government would withdraw fundamental rights or public benefits after the July 5 strike failed, calling such reports false. He said the government was already providing substantial subsidies on flour and electricity for the public.

Hanif said the organisation had been declared banned due to its involvement in past violent incidents. He also alleged that anti-state elements were receiving funding from India and said 79 FIRs had been registered against the committee’s leaders and alleged miscreants.

Hanif said the public and traders rejected the committee’s July 5 strike call. He alleged that the group’s activities created fear and unrest in PoonchandSudhnoti, severely affecting residents’ daily lives. He also accused the committee of encouraging violence among young people, saying it had “taken pens from their hands and replaced them with sticks.”

He said statements made by the committee’s leaders had exposed its true agenda and alleged that its members threatened to disrupt electricity transmission from Mangla.

Hanif said that in May 2023, a violent mob attacked the Assistant Commissioner’s office in Dadyal and set an official vehicle on fire. He said Sub-Inspector Adnan Qureshi was shot dead in Islamgarh, while the Assistant Commissioner’s vehicle in Khoi Ratta was also set ablaze. He further claimed that security personnel were disarmed after their weapons were snatched.

Hanif said Islamabad police personnel were taken hostage in November 2024, while officers were allegedly assaulted and subjected to inhumane treatment in Palak, Mirpur. He also alleged that an Assistant Commissioner was attacked with a dagger in Drikot in an attempted murder, while SP Bagh and other officials were taken hostage and assaulted.

He further said that three police personnel and two civilians were killed in firing in Dhirkot. According to Hanif, the banned committee cut down hundreds of trees to block roads and forcibly shut markets in Hajira, where trucks carrying food supplies were allegedly looted. He alleged that the public was deprived of essential food supplies in an attempt to shift the blame onto the state.

Hanif also claimed that a leader of the banned organisation threatened shopkeepers with consequences and accused the committee of violating the sanctity of mosques by using them for announcements.

He alleged that old images were being circulated on social media to create an anti-government narrative and urged the public not to believe fabricated news, advising them to verify information through credible sources.

Hanif further alleged that members of the banned committee were collecting donations to procure drugs and weapons and accused them of using women, children and students as human shields in Poonch district. He also claimed that residents living near the Line of Control (LoC) were prevented from reaching Hajira town.

Referring to recent incidents, Hanif alleged that armed individuals assaulted two people in Sangola Bazaar on July 1, 2026, and claimed that propaganda surrounding the July 4 firing incident was false and generated using artificial intelligence.