Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the head of the recently proscribed Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), was arrested in Azad Jammu and Kashmir's Dhirkot area on Tuesday, according to an official. Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Munir Qureshi confirmed Mir's detention to The Express Tribune, stating that Mir was arrested during a joint operation by the district administration and police based on intelligence information.
JAAC Confirms Arrest and Vows to Continue Movement
Following the arrest, the JAAC confirmed Mir's detention in a statement, saying fellow member Saib Javed had also been arrested. The group described the two as campaigners for "the people's rights, justice and a better future." The JAAC alleged that Mir was arrested while attempting to reach an ongoing sit-in, claiming that a combing operation involving intelligence agencies, police, and other institutions led to his detention before he could join the protest.
In a separate statement, the JAAC said Mir's presence at the sit-in would have significantly boosted the morale of participants, but insisted that the arrest of a single leader would not weaken the movement. "One voice can be suppressed, but not resolve. One person can be arrested, but not the movement," it added.
Movement Vows to Persist Despite Arrest
The JAAC said Mir was not alone and claimed the entire nation stood with him, expressing confidence that "victory will be for justice." Urging supporters not to lose heart, the group said public movements did not depend on any single individual. "This is not just Shaukat Nawaz Mir's movement, nor solely that of the core members. This is the movement of the entire public," the statement said.
The JAAC added that arrests, raids, imprisonment, and sacrifices had historically been part of public movements, expressing confidence that Mir would soon return to the people. Until then, it said, the public would remain "his voice" and carry forward his mission, adding that the movement would emerge stronger despite the arrest and that "ultimately, victory will belong to the people and defeat to tyranny, arrogance and the exploitative system."
Background: Tension in AJK After Ban on JAAC
The situation in AJK remains tense after the government banned the JAAC, with the group continuing its sit-in and vowing to sustain the protest until its "legitimate demands" are met. The arrest of Mir, the head of the proscribed organization, is a significant development in the ongoing standoff between the group and the authorities.
