Police in Azad Kashmir on Tuesday arrested Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a senior leader of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), following weeks of protests over legislative seats reserved for refugees. Government administrator Munir Qureshi confirmed the arrest, stating that Mir faces sedition charges for allegedly inciting violence during protests earlier this month that resulted in the deaths of at least four security officers and three civilians.
Arrest Details and Reward
Mir was apprehended during a raid on a house, according to Qureshi. His arrest came weeks after authorities announced a reward of 10 million rupees (approximately $35,000) for information leading to his capture and that of three other wanted JAAC members. Officials pledged to keep the identities of informants confidential. The regional government had banned the JAAC earlier this month, citing threats to public order, and detained dozens of its supporters.
Background of the Dispute
The JAAC has been demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the regional Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees who migrated to Pakistan from Indian-controlled Kashmir decades ago. The group argues that these seats grant disproportionate political influence to individuals residing outside the territory. The dispute escalated after the Supreme Court of Azad Kashmir ruled that the refugee seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment.
Political Implications
The regional Legislative Assembly has completed its five-year term, and the refugee seat issue has become a key political flashpoint ahead of elections scheduled for next month. The reserved seats were created to represent people displaced from Indian-controlled Kashmir due to the decades-old conflict over the Himalayan region. India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir but claim the territory in its entirety. They have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence from British rule in 1947.
