JKJAAC Leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir Arrested in PaJK Amid Ongoing Political Unrest

MUZAFFARABAD: Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a senior leader of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), was arrested on Tuesday in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (PaJK), according to local authorities and the organisation, marking a significant development in the government’s ongoing crackdown on the movement.

Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Munir Ahmed Qureshi said Mir was arrested during a joint operation by police and security personnel in the Hail Sarang area near Dhirkot. Officials said Mir was taken into custody along with an associate before being transferred for further legal proceedings.

Authorities allege that Mir faces charges including sedition and incitement in connection with recent protests that turned violent earlier this year. The regional administration had previously declared the JKJAAC a banned organisation under anti-terrorism legislation and announced rewards for the arrest of several of its senior leaders.

The JKJAAC confirmed Mir’s detention in a statement, saying he was arrested while travelling to join an ongoing protest. The organisation described the arrest as an attempt to suppress a peaceful movement and said it would continue its campaign for governance reforms, constitutional changes and greater political representation despite the detention of its leadership.

Reports of Mir’s arrest initially circulated on social media before being reported by multiple media outlets. While some officials confirmed the detention, others initially declined to comment publicly, leading to several hours of uncertainty over the circumstances of the arrest.

The arrest comes amid continued political tensions in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir following weeks of demonstrations led by the JKJAAC. The movement, which began with demands related to economic issues, has since expanded to include calls for constitutional reforms, changes to political representation and greater local autonomy.

The detention of one of the movement’s most prominent leaders is expected to further intensify political debate across the region, although it remains unclear how it will affect ongoing protests or prospects for renewed dialogue between the authorities and protest representatives.