RAWALAKOT: A Rangers soldier was martyred and three police officers were injured after clashes erupted between security forces and members of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) near Rawalakot in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to officials.
Police said the incident occurred after JAAC supporters attempted to enter Rawalakot on Monday evening despite repeated requests from authorities to end their demonstration peacefully and avoid disturbing public order. Officials alleged that protesters ignored these appeals and fired at law enforcement personnel, injuring police officers.
Security officials further stated that armed individuals later attacked a security checkpoint on the outskirts of the city, where Rangers sepoy Ali Raza lost his life in the line of duty. The violence also left a third police officer wounded.
During the unrest, protesters allegedly torched a Rangers vehicle and a police vehicle. Authorities maintained that security personnel acted with restraint while responding to the situation.
Officials accused the banned organisation of using violence, arson and attacks on government personnel in an effort to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the 2026 AJK elections. They said those responsible for damaging public property and targeting security forces would be identified and prosecuted under the law.
The police also claimed that social media accounts associated with JAAC circulated manipulated videos and misleading content to spread confusion and fuel tensions. Residents were urged to remain calm, avoid unverified information and rely on official updates.
Meanwhile, unofficial and provisional results from the first phase of the 2026 AJK elections started coming in from Mirpur Division, where candidates from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were involved in closely contested races across constituencies in Mirpur, Bhimber and Kotli.
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