MUZAFFARABAD: The tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) escalated following a strike call issued by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), with an alleged shooting incident in District Sudhanoti leaving one person dead and four others seriously injured.
The JAAC had called for a shutdown on October 4, seeking to halt vehicle movement and close businesses across the region.
However, residents and traders in Sudhanoti reportedly rejected the call, with markets remaining open and normal commercial activity continuing in several areas.
The account further claims that no Pakistan Rangers personnel or other federal security forces were deployed anywhere in District Sudhanoti at the time of the incident.
In this regard, the armed individuals associated with the proscribed JAAC subsequently opened fire on civilians after the strike call failed to receive the expected public response.
The reported firing resulted in the death of a retired soldier identified as Ramzan, a resident of Sudhanoti. The four other men were reportedly seriously wounded in the incident and later transferred to Rawalpindi for medical treatment.
The injured were identified as Shafqat Hussain, son of Muhammad Younis, 44; Waris, son of Muhammad Shafi, 45; Wasif Khan, 28; and Adnan, 33.
The reported casualties have added to tensions surrounding the ongoing political and public unrest in AJK.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities and affiliations of those allegedly responsible, would require confirmation from police, hospital authorities or other independent sources.
The incident has also prompted allegations that armed elements linked to the proscribed group resorted to violence after residents refused to comply with the shutdown call.
Questions Over Security and Accountability
The allegations have intensified questions about law and order in Sudhanoti and the security arrangements in the district. Claims regarding the absence of federal security forces, as well as responsibility for the shooting, remain matters requiring official verification.
The reported death of a retired soldier and injuries to four civilians have further raised concerns about the impact of political confrontations on ordinary residents.
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The incident has underlined the growing tensions in the region and renewed calls for restraint, protection of civilians and peaceful resolution of political disputes.
