Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bans Joint Awami Action Committee Amid Telecom Blackout Threats

On June 5‑6, 2026, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Home Department issued a notification under the AJK Anti‑Terrorism Act 2014 declaring the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), also known as the Jammu Kashmir Action Committee, a banned organisation. The ban was approved by the President of AJK and copies were sent to federal and provincial authorities. Officials said the group was involved in activities that could undermine peace, create unrest and threaten public safety.

Earlier, the Awami Action Party, whose youth activists are linked to the JAAC, warned on X that it would demolish mobile towers along protest routes if a telecom blackout were imposed. Authorities had already suspended mobile and internet services from 11:30 pm, with the blackout expected to last until 12 June, and requested federal forces such as Rangers and Frontier Corps to protect critical sites. Residents prepared for a planned strike, wheel‑jam and long‑march on 9 June, stockpiling fuel, food and other essentials.