Fitna Al Khawarij terrorists are present among AJK protesters: information secretary

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif says Fitna Al Khawarij terrorists are present among protesters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).

Speaking to the media, Hanif said some illegal and violent incidents have taken place in the region to disrupt the upcoming phases of the AJK elections. He claimed that armed individuals and militants have joined the protests while ordinary citizens were fewer in number. He also showed a video that appeared to show masked armed men on the rooftop of a building.

Hanif urged people to distance themselves from what he described as militant elements, saying the government had information about the presence of members of banned groups.

He said that anti-state elements are using women and children as human shields and spreading misleading content on social media to portray the protests as a human rights movement.

AJK police spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Irfan Kashfi said security forces would deal with armed individuals in the same manner as other militants.

He said the suspected militants are equipped with modern weapons, including automatic rifles and sniper equipment, and are not peaceful protesters.

The DIG said one police official was killed and five others were injured during clashes. He added that a suspect was arrested in Rawalakot and a military-grade weapon was recovered from him.