AJK issues travel advisory ahead of JAAC strike, asks visitors to leave

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday advised people from outside the region not to travel there and asked those already visiting to leave by Friday evening ahead of a planned June 9 strike called by the Joint Awami Action Committee.

The advisory, issued through the region’s Press Information Department and effective from June 5 to June 20, came as authorities stepped up security measures in anticipation of a major protest by the civil society alliance. An official spokesperson said the step had been taken to protect intending visitors from possible disruption and inconvenience and urged those already in the territory for tourism or other purposes to depart to avoid any unpleasant situation.

The strike call has been given by the JAAC, which has previously organised large protests over economic and political issues in the territory. Earlier confrontations linked to the movement turned deadly during clashes with law enforcement in May 2024 and September 2025.

Security deployment intensified

Islamabad has moved to reinforce the AJK police force to avoid a repeat of earlier violence. On Thursday, AJK Inspector General of Police Captain (retired) Liaqat Ali Malik formally sought 14,000 additional personnel from the federal government for deployment from June 7 to June 21.

Videos circulating on Friday showed convoys of security personnel entering Muzaffarabad, indicating reinforcements were already being sent ahead of the proposed shutdown.

Speaking to Dawn, Malik said:

Our foremost responsibility is to protect public and private life and property, and the police will act in accordance with their mandate.

He added:

"I urge people not to join any mob seeking to create unrest or attack security forces. Anyone with grievances or demands should pursue them through democratic and peaceful means"

A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the requested deployment was more than 14,000 personnel because two more requests had also been sent to the federal government for additional forces.

Protest centres on refugee seats issue

The latest JAAC mobilisation is focused on its demand for the abolition of the 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in mainland Pakistan after 1947. The alliance maintains that these seats are often used by mainstream Pakistani political parties to influence government formation in Muzaffarabad.

A day earlier, the AJK Legislative Assembly strongly backed the continuation of the reserved seats arrangement and said elections should be held on schedule.

Tourism and academic activity affected

The travel warning has already affected tourism operators. Zahid Aslam, who runs a guest house in Neelum Valley, told Dawn that the administration had asked him to tell his guests to leave. He said the property had bookings until June 16, but visitors were now seeking refunds.

Meanwhile, speculation spread on social media that internet and mobile data services could be suspended from Friday midnight, as happened during the JAAC strike held over September and October last year. That earlier shutdown disrupted classes, online businesses and freelance work and also affected communication by cutting off internet-based calling and messaging services across the region. However, there was no immediate official confirmation of any such suspension.

Separately, the University of AJK announced on Friday that its Spring 2026 examinations, due to begin on June 8, had been postponed until further orders because of the JAAC strike call.