Talal says JAAC protests mirrored PTI pattern

State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry stated that the JAAC protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) mirrored the pattern of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protests. He noted that both the JAAC and PTI announced their respective protest dates on the same day, October 4. Chaudhry contended that the announcement was not an accident and that the JAAC protest call was rejected by the people of Kashmir.

He accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of exploiting the deteriorating law and order situation in the province for political gains and criticized the provincial administration for not fulfilling its constitutional, democratic, and legal duties. Chaudhry reported that security agencies had arrested three additional members of the gang supplying weapons to the JAAC, which was dismantled during an intelligence-led operation.

The arrested individual, Zia, was a weapons dealer who had been operating for eight years and had contacts with key JAAC members. Zia was arrested in an intelligence operation following a firing incident at Kashmir Mor. The investigation revealed his connections with Majid, an associate of Sardar Aman, another JAAC member, and Zarshad from Afghanistan.

Chaudhry asserted that efforts were made to portray Zia as mentally unstable, as Sardar Aman sought medical certificates to declare Zia unfit for service. The JAAC had initially announced a long march despite the satisfaction of 37 out of 38 demands. Chaudhry claimed that the march was scheduled shortly after the announcement of election dates and aimed to create an atmosphere where elections could not take place while also promoting the narrative that decisions regarding Kashmir were being made from outside the region.