Death of woman fleeing 'moral policing' sparks outrage in AJK

The death of a young woman after falling from a cliff on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad on Saturday has triggered widespread outrage across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with demands for the harshest punishment for those accused of harassing couples under the guise of “moral policing” to extort money or valuables.

According to a police spokesperson, the incident occurred at about 1:15pm near Mera Tanolian village on Pir Chinasi Road, when Aqeel Ahmed, son of Muhammad Hussain, and his tenant, Ms Fakhra Amjad, daughter of Muhammad Amjad — both residents of the Plate neighbourhood in Muzaffarabad — had stopped their Mehran car by the roadside while returning from a drive.

Three to four men, one of them a police constable in plain clothes, confronted the pair, deemed their presence “suspicious,” and began beating Aqeel Ahmed. 

During the assault, Ms Amjad got out of the car and tried to flee, but fell approximately 100–120 feet down a mountainside into a ravine, sustaining critical head injuries.

Aqeel Ahmed, also injured, tried to take her to hospital, but she died on the way. Her body was sent for postmortem at CMH Muzaffarabad before being handed over to her family.

Police arrested Aqeel Ahmed and Amir, son of Gul Zaman — a police constable from Mera Tanolian posted elsewhere — and were searching for the remaining suspects, the spokesperson said, adding, legal proceedings had been initiated.

The incident sparked street protests and a wave of online condemnation of so-called “moral brigades” accused of harassing and blackmailing couples for extortion.

 On Sunday, dozens gathered outside the Press Club, demanding to know under what law anyone could question people about their relationships or reasons for visiting tourist spots.

Shahid Zaman Awan, a prominent civil society activist, said that if police had done their job, there would have been no need for the protest. 

“Instead of swooping on those who caused the girl’s death, they have arrested the boy who accompanied her. This is the worst example of traditional police tactics,” he said.

Another protester, Yasir Mughal, demanded swift punishment for the culprits to deter such incidents.

Social media posts reflected similar anger. 

According to many netizens, such incidents had been occurring in this and some other areas as well for a long time, but most victims would avoid reporting them to the police or speaking out publicly.

“Had the authorities taught an unforgettable lesson to some of the culprits, others would have learned from it. But alas, this does not fall in their priorities,” lamented Arham Shaikh, a local resident.

Famous social and political commentator Naila Altaf Kayani called the tragedy “yet another grim consequence of self-styled moral policing,” noting eyewitness claims that a police constable was among the perpetrators.

 “Does our state give anyone the right to take a life?” she asked, calling it proof of “societal hypocrisy and the failure of law.”

Entrepreneur Azra Hafeez Salib decried “institutions openly backing thugs instead of doing their jobs,” warning that if the region could not uphold the rule of law, “God help the rest.” 

Waqas Ahmed Zia, a young civil servant, called the killing “a stinging slap in the face of our justice system,” describing the “moral brigade” as robbers and killers shielded by political patronage.

Activist Fatima Anwar alleged the group had long been involved in harassment, looting, and sexual exploitation, and that a plainclothes police constable was among those who assaulted and robbed the couple, driving the girl to her death. 

Calling it “not an accident but a murder,” she urged a boycott of Pir Chinasi until those responsible are punished.

Playwright Ishtiaq Ahmed Aatish ridiculed the police account as “suspect,” asking why, if the injured girl was being taken to hospital by her companion, “the three or four ‘noble gentlemen’ had vanished.” 

“The Inspector General of Police should release the real report,” he demanded.

Tariq Naqash

CEC vacancy in AJK a threat to democracy: Tariq Farooq

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regional secretary general and former senior minister Chaudhry Tariq Farooq has expressed serious concern over the prolonged vacancy in the office of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), warning that it is crippling democratic institutions and could jeopardise the 2026 general elections.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Farooq pointed out that the post had been lying vacant for more than seven months, leaving the Election Commission “functionally paralysed” and local bodies “defunct.”

He noted that under Article 50 of the AJK Interim Constitution, the appointment of a neutral and empowered CEC was obligatory for holding free, fair and timely polls. 

“This is not merely an administrative delay — it is a dangerous political undercurrent,” he said.

Under the AJK’s Interim Constitution, the CEC is appointed by the AJK president on the advice of the chairman of the AJK Council — i.e., the Prime Minister of Pakistan — based on nominees proposed by the AJK prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the AJK Legislative Assembly. 

The commission also includes a senior member and a member, both appointed solely on the advice of the AJK prime minister.

The commission has been without a chairman since January 14, a day after the completion of the five-year term of retired Justice Abdul Rashid Sulehria as CEC. 

While the senior member position also remains vacant, retired secretary Syed Nazeerul Hassan Gillani was appointed as a member by Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on January 11.

Political circles allege that Mr Haq is dragging the matter for “reasons best known to him,” a stance that has infuriated his opponents, who suspect the “deliberate” delay is aimed at influencing future electoral outcomes.

On March 27, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had constituted a three-member committee headed by the federal law minister and comprising the federal Kashmir affairs secretary and AJK’s chief secretary to “review the legal scheme and the procedure of appointment of CEC under the provisions of AJK Interim Constitution and any other ancillary aspects of the issue” and submit recommendations within seven days.

The move drew criticism from the AJK chapters of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who argued that the AJK Constitution assigns no role to the federal law minister in the appointment process. 

The committee reportedly held one meeting, in which the AJK chief secretary was directed to speak to the AJK premier about the matter.

However, since then, neither the committee nor the office of the AJK Council chairman (the prime minister of Pakistan) has made any progress, despite PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir and parliamentary leader Raja Farooq Haider publicly denouncing the delay as a “blatant constitutional violation” by the AJK premier.

“The silence of the AJK Council, chaired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, is deeply worrying. The Council bears constitutional responsibility for this appointment, and further delay is unjustifiable,” said Mr Farooq, the PML-N regional secretary general.

He warned that continued inaction risked eroding AJK’s constitutional framework and could be perceived as an attempt to undermine its autonomous status. “Political parties, civil society and the lawyers’ fraternity have already voiced strong concerns about what appears to be a deliberate constitutional deadlock,” he added.

Mr Farooq further said the situation was damaging Pakistan’s credibility on the Kashmir issue internationally. “How can we advocate for democratic rights in Indian-occupied Kashmir while failing to uphold them in the territory under our own administration?” he asked.

He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his capacity as AJK Council chairman, to immediately appoint a competent and impartial CEC, resolving any procedural obstacles stemming from the 13th Constitutional Amendment through transparent dialogue. 

“This is not just about filling a vacant office — it’s about safeguarding democracy and the people’s right to representation,” he said.

Tariq Naqash

India returns drowned AJK teen’s body after cross-LoC coordination

Indian authorities on Saturday handed over the body of a teenage boy from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), nearly two weeks after it was recovered from their side of the Neelum River, an official said.

According to Akhtar Ayoub, the district disaster management officer in Neelum Valley, 18-year-old Shahzad Manzoor had drowned on July 3 while bathing in the icy waters of the Neelum River near Shaikh Bela village, located some 114 kilometres northeast of Muzaffarabad in the upper belt of the picturesque valley.

Despite persistent efforts by local water rescue teams, the body remained untraced for 17 days until it was spotted along the left bank of the river in the Keran village of Indian-occupied Kashmir.

On July 20, images and videos circulated by residents on this side of the Line of Control (LoC) showed Indian army personnel and local residents retrieving a body from the riverbank.

Civilian authorities from both sides, through military channels, subsequently coordinated to establish the boy’s identity and facilitate the repatriation process.

Mr Ayoub said that after completing the necessary procedural formalities, the coffin carrying the body was returned to Pakistani officials at a footbridge in Chilyana — a village located some 50 kilometres from Muzaffarabad, at the entrance to Neelum Valley - at 5:45pm

According to markings on the wooden coffin, made with a black marker, the body had been buried on July 20 and subsequently exhumed on August 2 for repatriation.

Chilyana faces Teetwal village on the opposite bank of the Neelum River in Indian-occupied Kashmir — a point that once served as a foot-crossing under the intra-Kashmir travel arrangement, before the activity was halted by the Indian government ahead of its unilateral and arbitrary move to revoke the special status of occupied Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.

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Awami Action Committee gives strike call for abolition of 12 refugee seats in AJKLA

 

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) – an alliance spearheading the recent rights movement in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) - on Thursday announced a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike across the liberated territory on September 29, calling for the abolition of 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who have settled in Pakistan.

Terming these seats a “hub of corruption” and “political opportunism,” the committee’s core members — Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Advocate Raja Amjad Ali Khan, Faisal Jameel Kashmiri, Raja Sohaib and Syed Faisal Gillani — alleged at a press conference that the “controversial representation” had no constitutional or ideological connection with the Kashmir freedom struggle and was being exploited by individuals with no real link to the displaced communities.

“Our movement is neither driven by personal motives nor party interests; it is rooted in the people’s long-standing and genuine concerns,” said Mr Khan. “Under the AJK’s Interim Constitution of 1974 and the UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) resolutions, it is clear that these 12 refugee seats have no legal, constitutional or ideological relevance to the freedom movement,” he asserted.

Mr Khan further alleged that the seats had become synonymous with fraudulent schemes, bogus development projects and the large-scale misappropriation of funds. “Their emotional linkage with the freedom movement is a smokescreen for preserving vested interests,” he added.

Mr Mir pointed out that genuine refugees had been living in miserable conditions in makeshift camps for over three decades, but those claiming to represent them had done little to alleviate their suffering.

“Instead, they have siphoned off public funds under the pretext of unmonitored development schemes in Pakistani cities and towns. The time has come for people to rise and demand the abolition of these seats,” he said.

The JKJAAC leaders insisted that eliminating these seats would neither weaken the Kashmir cause nor alter the region’s disputed status under international law. Rather, they claimed, it would mark the first step towards dismantling a deeply flawed and corrupt system.

They also lashed out at the current AJK Legislative Assembly, describing it as a “den of corruption,” and labelled its members “vessels of filth” who remained indifferent to public issues. 

“Most of the sitting MLAs are turncoats who abandon political principles for personal gain and are merely drawing salaries at the behest of Islamabad without any moral legitimacy,” said Mr Kashmiri.

Expressing concern over what they described as widespread governance failures and political apathy, the leaders demanded comprehensive electoral reforms, restoration of state subject rights, and fresh elections to ensure meaningful public representation.

 

They maintained that the internal rights of original state residents — known as State Subjects — could only be restored if they returned to reside in the state. Under the 1932 notification, they said, state subject status remains valid for up to two generations even if the individual resides abroad. “Any political solution must begin with facilitating their right of return,” they emphasised.

Acknowledging that AJK was administered as a local authority, the leaders maintained that key matters — including foreign affairs, defence and refugee rehabilitation — fell under the jurisdiction of the Government of Pakistan. “Any federal intervention in AJK must remain within constitutional limits and should not undermine representative governance,” Mr Khan cautioned.

They also criticised rising electricity tariffs and taxation, calling them an added burden on the public, and dismissed the AJK government’s role in recent negotiations with Islamabad as “nonexistent.” 

The media, they said, should question those who “run personal agendas in the name of the freedom struggle despite lacking even basic understanding of relevant international resolutions.”

Official response

Reacting to the JKJAAC’s remarks, a spokesperson for the AJK government strongly defended the refugee seats, terming them an “inseparable and integral part” of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. 

In a statement, he said the region’s governance was bound by the Interim Constitution, and no pressure group or committee could override its framework.

“Anyone wishing to alter the constitutional framework must follow the legally prescribed process,” the spokesperson said. 

“Refugees from occupied Jammu and Kashmir sacrificed everything for the freedom struggle, and their right to representation — including a vote in any future plebiscite — is guaranteed under UN resolutions.”

The spokesperson accused the JKJAAC of pursuing a divisive agenda and described their criticism of refugee representation as “morally inappropriate and politically motivated.”

Stirring resentment against any segment of society, he warned, would only fuel unrest.

“The AJK Legislative Assembly is a representative institution of the entire state. No one has the right to undermine it through emotional sloganeering. If someone seeks constitutional change, it must come through a democratic mandate, not agitation,” he said.

Tariq Naqash

Constitutional amendment urged to acknowledge binding UN resolutions on Kashmir

A London-based non-governmental organisation with special consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has called for the inclusion of binding UN Security Council resolutions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) constitutional framework, terming their omission a serious legal and strategic lapse.

The Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR) raised this concern in a formal communication from its president, Dr Syed Nazir Gilani, addressed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan (as Chairman of the AJK Council), the AJK Prime Minister, the Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

Mr Gilani pointed out that while the AJK Government Act of 1970 and the Interim Constitution of 1974 referred to the subsidiary UNCIP resolutions of 1948 and 1949, they omitted explicit mention of UNSC Resolutions 47 (1948) and 91 (1951), which were foundational to the international legal status of the Kashmir dispute.

“These UNSC resolutions are binding under Article 25 of the UN Charter, as they formally designate Jammu and Kashmir as an international dispute and mandate demilitarisation, a ceasefire, and a UN-supervised plebiscite,” he stressed.

He warned that the omission undermined AJK’s standing as a non-sovereign entity under international supervision, diluted its legal identity, and weakened its institutions' ability to invoke international law or challenge external interventions, such as the presence of Pakistani political parties.

Calling the issue a “strategic misalignment with grave legal and political consequences,” Dr Gilani recommended the introduction of a constitutional amendment to explicitly incorporate reference to UNSC Resolutions 47 and 91. 

He also urged the AJK leadership to seek judicial clarification that existing references to UNCIP resolutions inherently include the overarching UNSC mandates. 

Additionally, he called for greater engagement with legislators and the general public to raise awareness about the foundational legal role of UNSC resolutions in the Kashmir dispute, and for the reinforcement of international advocacy efforts by reaffirming AJK’s and Pakistan’s obligations under these UN directives in submissions to relevant international bodies.

Dr Gilani offered JKCHR’s assistance in formulating the necessary legal and institutional reforms, asserting that restoring the reference to binding UN resolutions was vital to upholding AJK’s international legal identity and the unresolved status of the Kashmir dispute.

Appointment of Plebiscite Advisor 

In an earlier related communication, the JKCHR had also urged the AJK prime minister to establish a dedicated plebiscite framework and appoint a plebiscite advisor, as envisaged under Article 11 of the Interim Constitution of 1974 and relevant UN resolutions.

Such a mechanism, according to the rights body, would reinforce AJK’s role as a transitional political entity under UN supervision and strengthen its constitutional and international standing.

Citing both UNCIP and UNSC resolutions, as well as a 1999 AJK High Court judgment, the JKCHR had lamented the continued inaction on the issue, warning that the absence of institutional arrangements had weakened AJK’s position, particularly in the aftermath of India’s unilateral actions on August 5, 2019. 

While proposing concrete steps to address the gap, the JKCHR also offered its assistance in drafting legal and diplomatic frameworks to uphold AJK’s obligations and the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

 Tariq Naqash

Leopard mauls minor girl to death in AJK's border villag

File photo

A leopard mauled to death an eight-year-old girl after straying into a residential area of a border village in Jhelum Valley district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Saturday, spreading fear and panic among local residents, police said.

    The tragic incident occurred at about 5pm in Nalai Dabran, a village situated in Pandu sector near the Line of Control (LoC), some 15 kilometres from the town of Chinari and 65 kilometres from Muzaffarabad.

    According to Raja Abdul Waheed, an official at the Chinari police station, the victim, Javeria — a second-grade student and daughter of Ghulam Mustafa Awan — was playing in the courtyard of her home when the predator suddenly attacked and dragged her away.

    Alarmed by her disappearance, family members and neighbours launched a frantic search and combed nearby fields and wooded areas for over three hours. Eventually, they found her lifeless body in dense shrubs about half a kilometre away.

    "The leopard had reportedly bitten her neck, drained her blood and then left the body in the bushes before fleeing towards the forest," the official said.

    Notably, a local journalist, Raja Saddam Hussain, had raised the alarm about the predator’s presence in the area two days earlier. 

    “On July 24, I reported that a leopard had made its way into Bagh Mohalla of Garthama and attacked a child, who narrowly survived,” he said. 

    “We warned of potential danger and urged the authorities to act, but unfortunately, no preventive measures were taken,” he said.

    The tragic death has once again brought attention to the increasing human-wildlife conflict in AJK’s forested regions. Environmental degradation, deforestation, and expansion of human settlements have pushed wild animals, particularly leopards, closer to inhabited areas, often with deadly consequences.

    Attempts to reach officials from the AJK Wildlife and Fisheries Department for comment remained unsuccessful until the filing of this report.

    The incident has left the residents of Nalai terrified, with many families confining themselves indoors out of fear of another possible attack.

    Funeral prayers for the young girl will be offered in Nalai Dabran at 11am on Sunday.

    Tariq Naqash

India’s August 5 move illegal, AJK must reclaim its constitutional role: Dr Nazir Gilani

Dr Syed Nazir Gilani gestures at his presser

Renowned Kashmiri jurist and rights advocate Dr Syed Nazir Gilani has said that India’s unilateral revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, was not only unconstitutional but also a grave violation of international law, bilateral commitments, and United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Addressing a press conference in Muzaffarabad on Saturday, Dr Gilani, who heads the London-based Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights (JKCHR), said the nature of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India on October 27, 1947, changed just 81 days later when India took the matter to the UNSC on January 15, 1948, and accepted a plebiscite under UN supervision. 

“India had no legal or moral authority to unilaterally decide the future of the disputed territory,” he stressed.

He cited UNSC Resolution 91 of 1951, which not only reaffirmed the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir but also cautioned the government of the occupied territory against taking any steps contrary to the framework laid down by the UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP).

 “India’s claim of constitutional finality over Jammu and Kashmir stands nullified by binding international commitments. No domestic court can override these legal instruments,” Dr Gilani added, criticising the Indian judiciary for treating Kashmir purely as an internal matter.

He revealed that JKCHR had made a formal submission on this issue to the UN Secretary-General, which was subsequently published as a UN General Assembly document on June 9, 2021, further strengthening the legal case against India's actions.

Institutional inaction enabled India’s move

Dr Gilani strongly criticised the government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for failing to establish an institutional framework for a plebiscite, as envisaged in the Karachi Agreement, the AJK interim constitutions of 1970 and 1974, and the AJK High Court’s 1999 judgment on a JKCHR petition.

 “India did not act in a vacuum. It took advantage of the permissive silence and institutional inaction of the AJK government,” he said. 

“Had the 1999 High Court verdict been implemented, and a plebiscite mechanism established in line with UN resolutions, the global perception of the Kashmir dispute would have been vastly different. This was a historic forfeiture of representation.”

He stressed the need to redefine AJK’s constitutional role, saying it was not a political charity underwritten by Pakistan but a moral and constitutional trustee of a disputed territory.

 “The foremost responsibility of the AJK government is to articulate, defend, and develop the legal and political case of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Pakistan's role and responsibilities

Dr Gilani emphasised that Pakistan, as a principal party to the Kashmir dispute, bore an even greater responsibility to project and safeguard the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination. 

He urged Islamabad to take the issue more vigorously to global forums, particularly Geneva and Washington, by introducing new faces and voices into its diplomatic efforts.

 “The current geopolitical landscape and international public opinion are favourable to Pakistan. India’s atrocities in occupied Kashmir have created space for Pakistan to rally Kashmiris' support for accession by responding to their suffering with concrete advocacy,” he noted.

Historical and human rights violations

Dr Gilani pointed out that until April 1959, Indian citizens required a permit to enter occupied Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting its distinct constitutional and political status. He said this status was systematically eroded by India through judicial manipulation and military aggression.

He also criticised India for breaching the original understanding on troop presence. “Indian security forces were to be limited to 21,000 unarmed personnel, aiding civil administration under four bilateral agreements and three clauses of UNSC Resolution 47. Instead, India has deployed over one million heavily armed troops, violating UN resolutions and the original terms of engagement.”

He said thousands of political prisoners, including Syed Shabbir Shah, Yasin Malik, Zafar Akbar Bhat, Naeem Khan, Asiya Andrabi, and dozens of other women, remain in detention—most of them shifted to prisons outside the occupied territory. 

“This is not just a political issue; it’s a humanitarian crisis, and it must be presented as such.”

Dr. Gilani said JKCHR had published five reports on Kashmiri prisoners and two on women from AJK and Pakistan stranded across the Line of Control, and that efforts were ongoing for their release and repatriation.

Water blockade and ‘crime against humanity’

Condemning India’s stoppage of natural water flows from Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan, Dr Gilani called it a crime against humanity, which must be raised at international environmental and human rights forums.

 “India has no authority under international law to halt the natural flow of rivers originating from a disputed territory. Blocking these waters constitutes water terrorism, and global institutions must take notice,” he said.

Refuting the narrative of “Youm-e-Istehsal”

Dr Gilani also rejected Pakistan’s use of the term “Youm-e-Istehsal” (Day of Exploitation) for August 5, calling it a weak response to what he described as a clear case of Indian aggression.

“This is not mere exploitation—it’s a blatant case of aggression. Pakistan must adopt a legal, strategic, and diplomatic narrative that confronts India’s violations forcefully,” he stressed.

 Tariq Naqash

PPP regional president, son win libel case in UK; defendant to pay £260,000 in damages

Ch Yasin (extreme r) and son (left) with in UK

In a landmark defamation ruling with political reverberations in both the UK and Pakistan, the High Court of England and Wales on Friday ordered a prominent UK-based YouTuber of Kashmiri origin to pay £260,000 in damages to two elected representatives from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) over what the court described as “serious, unfounded and harmful allegations.” 

The trial, heard from July 7 to 9, 2025, resulted in a damning judgment by Mrs Justice Heather Williams DBE, who held Abrar Qureshi liable for libel over two defamatory videos of his popular ‘Gorakh Dhanda’ programme published online on November 1, 2021 via different social media platforms. 

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) regional president and MLA Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and his son Chaudhry Amar Yasin, an AJK cabinet member, had brought the case in the King’s Bench Division of the High Court, citing severe harm to their political and personal reputations. 

The videos featured Mr Qureshi’s interview with Chaudhry Muhammad Sabeel, a former employee of the elder Yasin, who levelled grave accusations of criminal misconduct, including blackmail, sexual abuse, torture, corruption, and abuse of public office. The court concluded that Mr Qureshi had made no reasonable attempt to verify the allegations before broadcasting them to a large audience. 

In her 62-page ruling, a copy of which was seen by this scribe, Justice Williams noted that Mr Qureshi had abandoned his defences of truth and honest opinion on the first day of trial, leaving him unable to justify the defamatory publications under public interest protections

She found that Mr Qureshi had “fallen well short of the standards expected of a responsible journalist,” particularly given the size and influence of his platform, which includes over 190,000 YouTube subscribers and 700,000 Facebook followers. His failure to present the claimants’ version of events or conduct basic checks, the court held, made the publication grossly irresponsible.

The judge observed that the allegations had caused “serious harm” to the claimants’ personal and professional standing, especially considering their public roles within Pakistan and the Kashmiri diaspora in the UK. The tone of authority, repetition, and lack of challenge in the videos had led many viewers to believe the accusations were true, she added. 

While acknowledging that the claimants may have overstated the extent of reputational harm during parts of their testimony, the court was satisfied that the legal threshold of serious harm had been crossed by a wide margin. 

As a remedy, each claimant was awarded £130,000 in libel damages, including aggravated damages to reflect the distress and reputational damage caused. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to pay interest of £21,829 to each claimant and an interim payment of £65,000 towards legal costs by August 8.

In a rare step, the court issued a permanent injunction restraining Mr Qureshi from republishing the defamatory material or anything similar, and directed him to publish a court-approved summary of the judgment across all his relevant social media platforms within seven days, as per Section 12 of the UK Defamation Act 2013.

Legal experts say the ruling underscores the limits of free expression on digital platforms, particularly where reputations are damaged in diaspora politics. It also highlights the strength of UK libel law, even in a cross-jurisdictional and digital media context.

In a statement, Mr Yasin welcomed the judgment as “a vindication of truth and accountability.”

 “This was not a victory by chance, but the result of sincere intentions, perseverance, and faith in justice. We refused to compromise on dignity and self-respect, choosing principle over convenience at every turn,” he said. 

“This verdict is a testament to belief, integrity, and the unwavering resolve to stand for what is right.”

Tariq Naqash

AJK police protests prompt govt to approve hike in allowances

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has approved an increase in the ration and risk allowances for police personnel and incorporated the uniform allowance into their monthly salaries, three cabinet ministers announced on Wednesday.

The decision came in response to rare but peaceful demonstrations by police personnel, who gathered outside the offices of their respective district police chiefs on Monday and Tuesday, demanding improvements in their pay and service conditions under a 10-point charter of demands.

Speaking at a press conference in Muzaffarabad, AJK’s Senior Minister for Home Affairs Waqar Ahmed Noor acknowledged the concerns raised by the police and said the government had taken prompt steps to address many of them. 

He was accompanied by Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan, Law Minister Mian Abdul Waheed, Food Minister Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim, and Information Secretary Sardar Adnan Khurshid.

“Our police force is one of the best law enforcement agencies. Over the past two years, it has shown remarkable professionalism and restraint in dealing with difficult situations, including mass protests, long marches, and acts of terrorism,” Mr Noor said, adding that the force had suffered injuries but never acted with aggression.

He noted that terrorism was a new challenge for AJK, but police personnel had risen to the occasion, even sacrificing their lives to protect civilians.

“Realising their commitment and growing responsibilities, the government allocated Rs 4 billion for the police in the last budget and took several capacity-building measures, including infrastructure development, logistics, and fresh recruitments,” he said.

However, Mr Noor admitted that the existing risk, ration, and uniform allowances had not kept pace with the evolving situation. He said the risk allowance, previously frozen at the 2008 basic pay scale, would now be aligned with the 2015 pay scale.

Regarding uniforms, he said the government had been allocating Rs 110 million annually for this purpose, much of which was consumed by contractors and taxes. “Now, this amount will be paid directly to personnel as part of their monthly salary,” he said. He also confirmed an increase in ration allowance.

When asked about the financial impact of the decision, both the home and finance ministers said calculations were underway.

On the remaining demands of the police, the cabinet has decided to form a committee of senior police officers to provide recommendations. 

“The government will implement these not as a favour, but as a right, given the unique and round-the-clock nature of their duties,” Mr Noor said.

“All issues may not have been resolved, but we are committed to addressing them sincerely.”

Mr Noor also alleged that some elements had tried to exploit the protests but were rejected by the police personnel themselves. “Thankfully, the matter has now been settled, and all personnel are back at their posts.”

Responding to a question, the law minister maintained that the government had not suppressed any public voice through the use of force.

“If a public sentiment is emerging and the government is not crushing it with coercion, it should be seen as a positive sign and appreciated,” he said.

He emphasised that while the state had “one hundred and one ways” to assert its authority, the AJK government had instead demonstrated a high level of tolerance.

“We have endured even the harshest criticism without turning it into an issue of ego,” he remarked, adding that when governments allow ego to take over, it leads to confrontation, destruction, and ultimately a breakdown of the system.

“It is therefore incumbent upon the government to act with tolerance and forbearance, and that is precisely why many matters are now progressing in a constructive direction,” he said.

 

Rain-related preparedness

 

Mr Noor also briefed the media about the government’s preparations in light of the Met Office’s forecast of eight critical weather spells, four of which are still expected.

He said all departments had been put on high alert to respond to potential flash floods. Vulnerable homes along water channels had been identified, and notices issued to occupants to remain ready for evacuation. Educational institutions had been designated as temporary shelters for relocated families.

“If anyone refuses to leave despite imminent danger, the administration will use force to evacuate them until the threat subsides,” he warned.

Mr Noor informed that around Rs 800 million had been placed at the disposal of the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) to ensure the availability of emergency supplies, including tents, mattresses, dry rations, and utensils, across all districts. 

Five remote-controlled boats had been procured for rescue operations, and the government was considering the purchase of heavy drones capable of airlifting stranded individuals, he added.

When asked whether any action was planned against officials who allowed illegal construction along water channels, both the home and finance ministers avoided a direct answer, saying the priority at the moment was to save lives.

The cabinet, Mr Noor added, also unanimously paid tribute to the people resisting Indian repression in occupied Kashmir, as well as to the martyrs from the army, police, and those lost to harsh weather. 

Finance Minister Majid Khan interjected to state that the cabinet also reaffirmed its support for the 12 constitutionally protected legislative seats reserved for the Pakistan based refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Tariq Naqash

Shia orator booked in AJK over alleged blasphemous remarks

The alleged blasphemer 

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police on Tuesday night registered a case under Section 295-C of the Azad Penal Code against a Shiite orator from Chakwal over alleged blasphemous remarks made during a recent religious gathering on the outskirts of the state capital. 

The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged at Panjgran police station at 9:30pm, naming the accused as Baqar Ali Khan, son of Muhammad Saqlain Mughal, a resident of Pindkot Chaudhrian, Tehsil and District Chakwal. 

The move came after widespread outrage and mass protests erupted in and around Muzaffarabad earlier in the day, with demonstrators demanding capital punishment for the orator, whom they accused of disrespecting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). 

According to police and eyewitnesses, thousands of protestors blocked roads by placing obstacles and setting tyres ablaze, bringing traffic to a halt at multiple locations, including Chattar Chowk, Chehla Bandi and Kohala, the main entry point to AJK from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

The controversy stemmed from a video clip that went viral on Monday, featuring a controversial excerpt from a speech allegedly delivered by the accused during a Majlis held on the 8th of Muharram at the residence of Wajahat Kazmi in Kanoor village, which falls within the jurisdiction of Panjgran police station. 

The remarks sparked widespread condemnation from the Sunni community, who viewed them as highly offensive. Soon after, Syed Ali Raza, the prayer leader of a mosque in Khawarmang village (tehsil Patikka), submitted a formal complaint to police, co-signed by nine other local notables, demanding legal action under Section 295-C, which deals with blasphemy. 

In a video statement posted on Monday afternoon, SSP Muzaffarabad Syed Riaz Haider Bukhari confirmed that police had received the complaint and had acted swiftly to apprehend the suspect.

“We have initiated the strictest legal proceedings to fulfill all requirements and will build a strong case,” the SSP said, urging citizens to preserve communal harmony and avoid provocative actions. 

A separate statement by a police spokesperson urged the public to share any credible evidence related to the viral clip directly with the authorities. 

Meanwhile, tensions escalated further when some members of the Shiite community came to the orator’s defense, asserting that his speech had been taken out of context. Their stance provoked even stronger reactions from Sunni protestors, many of whom took to the streets chanting slogans and demanding the harshest punishment. 

“We can tolerate anything but the slightest disrespect to our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him),” said a demonstrator at Chattar Chowk. “There is no penalty for a blasphemer except execution,” another added. 

The FIR noted that, after the suspect was taken into custody, the case was referred to a committee constituted under Section 156-A of the Azad Penal Code (Amended Act VII of 2020) to evaluate whether the remarks met the legal threshold for blasphemy charges.

According to the FIR, the committee’s preliminary findings confirmed that a prima facie offence under Section 295-C had been committed. Based on its recommendation, police proceeded with registration of the case and forwarded a copy of the report to the Additional Superintendent of Police via the SSP for further investigation, and thus bringing protests to end for the time being.

Tariq Naqash

Indian shelling kills six, injures over 35 in AJK

A man walks through Jura Bazar on Friday/TN

Indian troops unleashed intense and indiscriminate shelling across the Line of Control (LoC) late Thursday night, targeting civilian populations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) until dawn on Friday.

The unprovoked aggression, which resumed after sunset on Friday, left six civilians — including a 40-day-old infant — martyred and more than 30 others injured, officials confirmed.

"This was the heaviest artillery shelling in recent times, affecting even those areas that had largely remained untouched in previous ceasefire violations," said AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq at a press conference in his office on Friday afternoon.

“However, the resilience shown by our people and the befitting response by our armed forces to the enemy's aggression is truly commendable,” he added.

Earlier in the day, officials from Poonch, Muzaffarabad, and Mirpur divisions shared details of the widespread damage and casualties as the shelling intensified past midnight.

In Kotehri Najam Khan village of Bagh district, 22-year-old Usama Ishrat — who had married just ten days earlier — was martyred when an artillery shell, reportedly fired from the Uri sector, pierced the tin roof of his house at around 3:50am.
His sisters, Anoob Shahzadi, 19, and Kashaf Ishrat, 17, along with a neighbour, Basharat Hussain, 52, sustained injuries.

In Haveli district, several people were injured between 12:23am and 2am. Among them were Hurmat Kausar, 22, and her five-year-old daughter Hajira in Nakar Kot village; Muhammad Yasin, 45, in Chanjal; and Shahid Deen, 40, in Forward Kahua.

Six more civilians were injured in the villages of Phagwati, Devi Galli, Mandhol, Dhar Bazar, Mera Kehlot, Zyarat Muhalla, and Chaffar of Hajira and Abbaspur tehsils. They included Rehan Shakoor, 14; Muavia, 22; Malik Mir Akbar, 60; Chaudhry Rafique, 55; Maryam Shahzad, 35; and Muhammad Farooq, 45.

Kotli district suffered the heaviest losses between 1:25am and 2:10am. 

In Gora village of Khuiratta tehsil, 20-year-old Samra Asif and her 40-day-old daughter Ziman Fatima were martyred when a shell struck their house.

In Balyal Bharot village, 58-year-old Raja Shahpal, and in Bandli village, 32-year-old Usman Khalid were also martyred after being hit by shell fragments inside their homes. 

Locals said Khalid had returned from Libya barely a week earlier on vacation.

Those injured in different parts of Khuiratta tehsil included Imtiaz Begum, 45, and her daughters Tahira, 22, and Iqra, 20, Zobia, 22, Banaras, 45, and his son Haroon, 18, Shabbir Hussain, 52, Muhammad Rafique, 70, Muhammad Iqbal, 70, and his son Qaiser Iqbal, 26, Khurshid Mian, 50, and Shagufta Ejaz, 40.

Elsewhere in Kotli district, Muhammad Gul, 53; Salahuddin, 85; and Toshiba Akhtar, 20, were injured in Nakyal and Charhoi tehsils.

In Bhimber district, three civilians — Urooj Shabbir, 16; Muhammad Ashraf, 55; and Muzammil Hussain, 50 — were injured in shelling incidents in Samahni and Barnala tehsils.

In Muzaffarabad division, five civilians were injured in Jhelum Valley and one in Neelum Valley early Friday morning. After maghrib prayers, Indian troops resumed shelling in Neelum valley. One shell landed on a house in Shahkot village, killing a woman.

Apart from human casualties, numerous private homes and public-sector buildings — including healthcare facilities — were damaged in the cross-LoC shelling.

All educational institutions in the region remained closed on Friday. The prime minister said a review of school reopening and board examinations would be undertaken on Monday.

Muzaiz Zahid, an 18-year-old FSc student at a cadet college near Muzaffarabad, expressed concern over academic disruption.

“Our entire schedule is in disarray. Had the exams been held on time, we could have started preparing for university admissions,” he said.

“Despite the escalation, none of my classmates are fearful. Some of them from Bagh even sent me videos of shells flying over their homes last night.”

Prime Minister Haq reiterated that the determination of the Kashmiri and Pakistani people remained unwavering.

He told that in Neelum Valley, 319 residents were evacuated from Bore to Dawarian, and 119 from Ratta Pani to Sharda. In Bagh district, 79 individuals were relocated to Rara.

“People are not willing to leave their homes, which reflects their extraordinary courage,” the premier said. “We had to forcibly evacuate them for their own safety.”

Meanwhile, the government on Friday announced the suspension of weekend holidays in all departments classified as essential services under the AJK Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 2016.

A notification listed 17 departments whose employees were directed to remain present in their offices on Saturdays and Sundays as well.

Total losses

Meanwhile, according to a statement by the SDMA, at least 17 people had embraced martyrdom and 53 others had sustained injuries in AJK since Tuesday night due to missile attacks and shelling along the LoC.

The statement added that 14 cattle had perished, while 24 houses, a shop, and two cattle sheds were completely destroyed. Another 204 houses sustained partial damage. One mosque was razed and nine others were partially damaged. Four educational institutions, three health facilities, and an electricity office also suffered partial damage. Around eight vehicles and motorcycles were either partially or completely damaged.

Tariq Naqash  

AJK govt sets up emergency response centres as 11 die amid Indian aggression

A view of smouldering Bilal Mosque/TN

In response to Indian missile strikes and intense shelling that killed at least 11 civilians and wounded several others across three districts along the Line of Control (LoC), the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Wednesday established a Central Emergency Response Centre to coordinate rescue, relief, and damage assessment efforts round the clock.

Officials in Muzaffarabad, Haveli, Poonch, and Kotli provided preliminary details of the devastation, noting that a precise evaluation of property losses was still underway. As part of the emergency measures, all educational institutions across the region were ordered closed until further notice.

In Muzaffarabad’s Shawai area, a mosque struck by missiles—killing three people, including its 80-year-old caretaker—remained the focus of high-profile visits throughout the day. Among the visitors were members of the United Nations Military Observers Group for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), who were briefed by military officials on the unprovoked Indian attack.

Technical teams combed the smouldering structure for unexploded devices and evidence that might aid ongoing investigations.

Residents near the mosque shared harrowing accounts of the attack.

Safeer Awan speaking to media/photo TN

“At first, we had no idea what was happening. My daughter and I had just stepped into the veranda when she was struck by shrapnel. We immediately ran for cover,” said Safeer Awan, a lawyer whose house is located just metres from the mosque.

Refuting Indian claims of militant presence in the area, he added, “If there had been any terrorists around this mosque, would a school be operating right next to it? This is nothing but baseless propaganda by the Modi regime.”

Muhammad Ali, 26, a shoe store employee living about 200 metres from the mosque, said: “I was scrolling on my phone when the lights suddenly went out. Then came a deafening explosion. At first, we thought a transformer had blown, but then a series of blasts followed. It was terrifying.”

After a lull in attacks, he and his friends fled the area on a motorbike without headlights and spent the night in his village.

A man shows broken window panes/TN

“When we returned at dawn, the police and army had cordoned off the area,” he added.

Bilal Nasrullah, 21, a worker at a nearby dairy farm, recalled: “The missiles lit up the night sky one after another. People were running for their lives. We hid under a cluster of dense trees until the shelling stopped. My family, who live nearby, were also shaken.”

Muzaffarabad Deputy Commissioner Mudasser Farooq said many residents had been evacuated from Shawai overnight and returned home by the afternoon.

“If any new threat emerges, we are ready to respond,” he said. 

He identified the deceased mosque caretaker as Yaqoob from Nagdar village in Neelum Valley, who was buried near Bilal Mosque after funeral prayers at AJK University’s Chehla campus. The other victims—Waqas Nasim from Abbaspur and Hassan from Rawalakot—were buried in their respective hometowns following funeral prayers in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot.

In Kotli, missiles struck Masjid-e-Abbas in the densely populated Roli neighbourhood, but no casualties were reported as the mosque was unoccupied at the time. However, a missile hit a nearby three-storey house, killing 19-year-old Misbah Kausar and her 12-year-old brother Umar on the second floor. On the first floor, 35-year-old Nusrat Parveen and her 12-year-old son Muhammad were injured, according to Kotli Deputy Commissioner Nasir Rafique.

Deaths at LoC

Apart from the losses from missile strikes, several other fatalities and injuries were caused by intense and indiscriminate shelling along the LoC, officials said.

In Forward Kahuta, the district headquarters of Haveli, mortar shells struck two semi-detached houses, killing Muhammad Amin Butt and Raj Muhammad. The former’s wife Hafiza, daughter Shabnam, sister-in-law Razia Nazir, and niece Kiran were injured. In Keirni village, another resident, Fakharuddin, sustained critical injuries.

In Poonch district, Maqsood Sakhi, 45, and Ishtiaq Zameer, 35, were killed in Kharanj and Ghambir Bala villages of Hajira subdivision. A 7-year-old boy, Irtiza Abbas, son of an army officer posted in Poonch, was also martyred in the same subdivision.

Apart from that, six others, including a woman and a young boy, were injured in Hajira and neighbouring Abbaspur.

In the Khuiratta area of Kotli, 26-year-old Sidra Qamar was killed by shelling while sweeping the veranda of her home in Ghora Sial village. The house was left riddled with holes.

In Panjkot area of Muzaffarabad, a man and a woman were injured in separate incidents of shelling.

DC Farooq also informed that the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) had suffered damage to its hydraulic power unit (HPU), forcing the closure of a gate. An ambulance belonging to the project was also hit.

On Wednesday, all educational institutions remained closed, while markets were open but subdued.

A view of CMH Road on Wednesday/TN

Despite an invisible fear, many residents remained defiant.

“We are Muslims—we believe our time of death is written,” said Adil Hameed, an electronics dealer in Madina Market. “So why live in fear?”

Late in the afternoon, the government ordered that all educational institutions—both public and private—would remain closed until further orders.

Emergency Response Centre

 

A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq decided to establish the Central Emergency Response Centre, which will operate 24/7 with divisional commissioners, DIGs, DCs, and SSPs as members. The centre was tasked to report directly to the prime minister on evolving threats. 

The meeting also approved the establishment of Emergency Health and Information Response Centres to work in full coordination with the central unit. 

Prime Minister Haq instructed authorities to ensure immediate medical assistance for the injured and full support to the families of the deceased. 

He also ordered the availability of essential supplies and directed officials to resolve staff and medicine shortages in health facilities within 24 hours. 

The Central Response Centre was also assigned to collect data on livestock and property losses and initiate concrete relief and rehabilitation measures.

Ends