Azad Jammu and Kashmir Information Secretary Rashid Hanif has claimed that a large number of miscreants, terrorists and members of the group referred to by the government as Fitna al Khawarij are part of the banned Awami Action Committee.
Addressing a joint press conference alongside the spokesperson for Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police, Hanif alleged that attempts had been made to disrupt the electoral process in the region, adding that maintaining law and order remained the state’s primary responsibility.
He claimed that the banned committee included relatively few ordinary citizens, while armed individuals, terrorists and members of Fitna al Khawarij were present in significant numbers. According to him, state institutions possess evidence supporting these allegations.
Hanif further alleged that those involved in the protest were using civilian populations as human shields.
He urged the public to remain in contact with the administration and state institutions and to rely on verified information in order to avoid misinformation.
During the same press conference, the spokesperson for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police claimed that some protesters were carrying modern automatic weapons and that five police officers were injured in firing allegedly carried out by those elements.
The Awami Action Committee has not immediately responded publicly to these allegations.
