MUZAFFARABAD — Thousands of activists and supporters of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) regrouped at two sit-in sites on the outskirts of Rawalakot on Friday afternoon. The rapid mobilization came just hours after regional administrators claimed the protest campaign had collapsed following an overnight dispersal.
Key Highlights
- Thousands of JAAC supporters returned to Eidgah Ground and a local bus terminal after a brief midnight dispersal.
- Regional authorities originally claimed protesters had “unconditionally surrendered” after back-channel talks.
- A general strike entered its fifth consecutive day, keeping businesses closed and public transport suspended across most of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
- The government blocked the computerized national identity cards (CNICs) and passports of 31 core JAAC members.
- Local organizers formed management committees and reiterated plans for a long march toward Muzaffarabad.
Back-Channel Rumors Dispelled by Swelling Crowds
Senior administrative officials stated early Friday that all three major protest camps on the fringes of Rawalakot were cleared after midnight due to anticipation of a law enforcement operation. Poonch Divisional Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan claimed local leaders had agreed to disperse after negotiating through intermediaries. According to officials, JAAC leader Umar Nazir Kashmiri had offered to end the sit-ins in exchange for the government withdrawing the notification banning the group.
While residents confirmed that the primary site at Eidgah Ground was temporarily deserted at dawn, crowds began returning by Friday afternoon. The gathering swelled to several thousand people following Friday prayers, effectively countering official narratives of a total surrender. A second crowd of roughly 3,000 participants also reassembled at a nearby bus terminal under the leadership of local JAAC organizers.
Administrative Restrictions and Standoff Continue
The administrative response has shifted toward targeting the movement’s organizational and financial networks. Alongside freezing the identity documents and passports of the central leadership, unconfirmed reports indicate that several individuals and traders in Mirpur have been detained for allegedly providing financial backing to the committee.
Despite these security measures and a complete halt to public transit, inter-district road links remain open. JAAC leadership has instructed its members to avoid direct confrontation with security personnel while they debate their next tactical move, which includes options to remain at the current sit-in sites or proceed with the heavily fortified march toward Muzaffarabad.
