AJK Strike Continues as JAAC Sit-Ins Defy Crackdown

Azad Jammu and Kashmir remained tense on Sunday as the Joint Awami Action Committee’s sit-ins near Rawalakot continued despite administrative pressure, partial shutter-down strikes and prolonged disruption of communications. The protests, which have drawn public attention across the region, have now turned into a wider governance and civil-rights challenge for the AJK authorities.

According to the latest reporting from Muzaffarabad, two protest camps linked to JAAC activists and supporters remained active on the outskirts of Rawalakot. The gatherings continued after several days of agitation, while markets and public transport in multiple areas remained partially or fully affected, particularly in Muzaffarabad Division and parts of Mirpur Division.

The situation on the ground appeared fluid throughout the day. Protesters who had temporarily left the Eidgah Ground during heavy rain reportedly began returning later, while a smaller group stayed behind to prevent the venue from being taken over by law enforcement personnel. Witnesses said the number of participants increased again in the evening and women were also present at the site until sunset.

Authorities have tightened action against the proscribed protest movement, with reports of businesses linked to key activists being sealed and raids being carried out. In Muzaffarabad, police reportedly searched a men’s hostel while trying to locate a JAAC member, but the individual was not found. The crackdown has added another layer of tension to an already sensitive political dispute.

A major concern for residents is the continued suspension of internet services, which has now entered its eighth day. Students, freelancers and ordinary citizens say the outage has disrupted education, online submissions, remote work and daily communication. One student from Muzaffarabad said he had to travel outside the city to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa simply to upload required documents online.

The official and political reaction has focused on avoiding further confrontation. Former AJK president and prime minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan appealed to JAAC leaders to end the agitation unconditionally, saying the situation required flexibility, restraint and a political settlement. He argued that the region could not afford prolonged unrest and urged stakeholders to avoid emotional escalation.

The current unrest follows a difficult period in AJK, where public mobilisation around rights, prices, electricity, governance and regional decision-making has repeatedly created friction between activists and the administration. The Joint Awami Action Committee has become a major protest platform, but the authorities’ decision to ban and pursue its network under security laws has sharply raised the stakes.

The disruption carries serious implications for daily life in AJK and for Pakistan’s wider political environment. Prolonged shutdowns hurt traders, transporters and wage earners, while internet restrictions directly affect students, digital workers and families dependent on online income. The crisis also risks deepening mistrust if people see administrative control replacing dialogue.

The next phase will depend on whether political intermediaries can restart talks before the confrontation hardens further. PPP leaders in AJK are expected to discuss the matter in Islamabad, while residents are looking for restoration of communication services and a clear path to normalcy. Without a negotiated way forward, the sit-ins and shutdowns may continue to dominate the region’s public life.