Over 1,500 Islamabad police personnel to be deployed in AJK ahead of June 9 protest

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad police will deploy 1,505 personnel, equipped with full anti-riot gear, to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for security ahead of a major regional strike called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), demanding the abolition of 12 seats reserved for refugees in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

Under the security plan, approved by the Islamabad Police Inspector General, personnel from multiple key divisions, including the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Safe City, Operations, and the Security Division, will be deployed across AJK.

A reserve force has also been placed on high alert for rapid deployment if the situation escalates.

The deployment includes a highly structured hierarchy of senior commanders and field officers led by a Deputy Inspector General and two Senior Superintendents of Police, four Superintendents of Police, eight Assistant/Deputy Superintendents, 16 Inspectors, and 1,382 constables.

With security preparations entering their final phase, the capital’s police chief has issued strict logistical and operational directives for cross-border movement.

Sources said Islamabad police personnel have been ordered to move with comprehensive anti-riot gear to manage potential crowd-control scenarios.

The force will be equipped with specialized logistical support, including medical aid kits, loudspeakers, flashlights, and other essential field gear.

Security measures across AJK have been heavily tightened, with local authorities requesting this external reinforcement to fortify vulnerable friction points ahead of the June 9 shutdown deadline.

The political dispute in the region centers on demands by the JKJAAC to abolish 12 reserved legislative seats for refugees, a friction point that has threatened a complete regional shutdown and prompted the AJK government to seek emergency intervention from both the regional Supreme Court and federal security apparatuses.

Earlier, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Supreme Court accepted a reference for hearing on the constitutional status of 12 legislative seats reserved for Jammu and Kashmir refugees living in Pakistan.

A two-member bench, led by AJK Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram and including Justice Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry, issued notices to the AJK government, opposition political parties, bar councils, and the general public following a brief initial hearing. The court scheduled the next hearing for Saturday morning.

The AJK government has approached the apex court under Article 46-A of the AJK Interim Constitution, 1974, which allows the government to seek the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion on matters of public and constitutional importance.

The 12 reserved seats are designated for refugees who migrated from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and currently reside across various provinces in Pakistan.

Critics argue the setup is prone to political manipulation, while defenders view it as crucial representation.