AJK Police Say JAAC Abducted 8 Election-Duty Highway Officers

Azad Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday accused the Joint Awami Action Committee of abducting eight highway police personnel who had been deployed on election duty, escalating tensions in a region already facing weeks of unrest and politically sensitive polling activity.

The allegation was made by AJK Police Spokesman SSP Khawar Ali Shaukat during a televised press conference in Rawalakot. He said the missing officials were serving as part of security arrangements for the ongoing election process when they were allegedly taken away by members of the committee.

Police claimed the personnel were in JAAC custody and had been subjected to mistreatment. State media also shared images of the officials, adding to public concern over their safety and the possible impact of the incident on the wider security environment in the region.

SSP Shaukat warned that the state would not tolerate threats to the lives of law enforcement personnel. He said the authorities had shown restraint, but insisted that any attempt to challenge state authority or use violence against public officials would be handled under the law and the Constitution.

The police spokesperson also appealed to the public to distance themselves from the group and urged parents to monitor young people who, he alleged, could be influenced by propaganda during the current unrest. He called on the committee to release the detained personnel immediately and avoid further confrontation.

The JAAC has been protesting over political and administrative demands, including opposition to 12 reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly for refugees from Indian-held Kashmir. Its demonstrations have continued for several weeks and have increasingly become a point of friction between protesters, the regional administration and security forces.

The latest claim comes against the backdrop of violent clashes reported in Rawalakot and Mirpur on July 28, where confrontations between protesters and law enforcement personnel caused casualties and deepened uncertainty around the staggered election schedule. Officials have also accused militant elements and foreign-backed actors of trying to exploit the unrest, though such claims remain politically charged and sensitive.

For Pakistan, the situation in AJK carries significance beyond local law and order. Any disruption during elections in the territory can sharpen political disputes, strain administrative control and create space for competing narratives at a time when the region remains central to Pakistan’s domestic politics and foreign policy messaging.

The immediate priority for authorities will be the safe recovery of the eight personnel and the prevention of further escalation. How the administration manages the coming hours may determine whether the situation remains a contained security incident or develops into a broader political and public-order crisis across AJK.