AJK Rawalakot Clash Toll Rises as 7 Civilians Reported Dead

At least seven civilians were reported dead after a violent confrontation between police and supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, deepening an already volatile law-and-order crisis in the region. The latest death toll was confirmed by a senior official on Monday, a day after unrest erupted during protests linked to the newly proscribed group.

The violence followed rising tensions over the death of a trader, whose killing during an earlier confrontation with law enforcement had triggered public anger. Protesters gathered near the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalakot, where the body had reportedly been taken, and the situation escalated when police moved to disperse the crowd.

Officials said the confrontation left several people dead and injured, while 30 people were taken into custody late Sunday. The clash also came after four law enforcement personnel were killed in related violence, underlining the seriousness of the security breakdown and the risks facing both civilians and police in the area.

Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan confirmed the civilian casualties, while AJK Inspector General Liaqat Ali Malik also shared details of arrests and injuries among police personnel. Authorities have accused protesters of attacking the hospital premises, whereas the protesters and the family of the deceased trader have linked their agitation to demands surrounding the ban on JAAC.

The immediate trigger appears to be a dispute over the handling of the trader’s body and the decision to delay burial. His family reportedly refused to proceed with the funeral until the AJK government withdrew its notification declaring the Joint Awami Action Committee a proscribed organisation, turning a local grievance into a wider political flashpoint.

The Joint Awami Action Committee has been at the centre of intense political debate in AJK, particularly over its demand to abolish 12 refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. These seats are reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947, but JAAC has argued that they are used by mainstream political parties to shape power politics in Muzaffarabad.

The AJK government had banned the group ahead of a planned protest on June 9, accusing it of activities that threatened public peace and state security. Following the notification, authorities launched a crackdown on the organisation, arresting leaders and activists from different parts of the region and sealing its head office, according to official reports.

The crisis has also affected public communication and movement across AJK. Mobile data services remained restricted, limiting the flow of information from the region, while authorities advised visitors to postpone travel until June 20 due to security concerns. Islamabad has also sent federal paramilitary forces to support local police as tensions remain high.

The coming days will be crucial for AJK’s political stability. If the government and protest leaders fail to find a negotiated path, the confrontation could expand beyond Rawalakot and further strain public trust. For Pakistan, the unrest presents a sensitive governance challenge involving security, constitutional representation and public rights in a strategically important region.