Raja Amjad Quits JAAC in Major AJK Political Setback

Advocate Raja Amjad Ali Khan, a core committee member of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, announced on Sunday that he was completely parting ways with the organisation. The development came through a video statement and immediately drew attention because of his former role inside the movement.

In his message, Raja Amjad urged young people in Azad Kashmir to return to constructive and peaceful political engagement. He said the future of the region’s youth should not be put at risk through agitation, confrontation or campaigns that could push them toward legal trouble and social instability.

The former JAAC figure claimed that what began as a peaceful movement had been redirected from its original path. He alleged that the platform was being used in a way that could damage the relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir, a charge that adds political weight to his decision to publicly distance himself from the committee.

Raja Amjad also alleged that ordinary and innocent young people had been pushed toward arrests and imprisonment while decisions were being made behind closed doors. His remarks appeared to challenge the internal credibility of the movement and raised questions about how decisions were being shaped within the proscribed organisation.

The statement is significant because Raja Amjad had not been seen as an ordinary supporter. He had been associated with the committee’s core structure and was also described as an influential legal voice linked to the movement, making his departure a potentially damaging blow at a sensitive time.

The Joint Awami Action Committee had previously emerged as a prominent pressure platform in Azad Kashmir, mobilising public sentiment around rights, governance and economic issues. However, the group later came under increasing official scrutiny, with authorities declaring it a banned organisation under anti-terror provisions after accusing it of activities harmful to peace and security.

The latest video statement also reflects the broader political tension in Azad Kashmir after recent crackdowns, arrests and disputes over protest politics. Raja Amjad’s appeal to young people suggests an attempt to shift the public conversation away from street confrontation and toward lawful political participation.

For Pakistan, the development carries wider implications because politics in Azad Kashmir is closely tied to national security, regional stability and public trust in state institutions. A high-profile split from a banned group could weaken its ability to mobilise support, while also strengthening the official narrative that young people should avoid organisations accused of promoting unrest.

The next phase will depend on whether other associated figures follow Raja Amjad’s lead or whether JAAC-linked supporters reject his claims. Authorities are likely to watch the reaction closely as Azad Kashmir moves through a politically charged period in which public grievances, law enforcement actions and competing narratives remain deeply connected.