The Azad Kashmir government has registered a sedition case against Khawaja Mehran Arshad and other members of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee over statements against national institutions, particularly the Pakistan Armed Forces, on an Indian agenda.
According to government sources, while addressing a protest gathering held in Rawalakot, Khawaja Mehran and two other members of the banned Action Committee targeted national institutions and adopted an anti-state narrative while speaking about public rights.
Sources say that Khawaja Mehran made baseless allegations against the Pakistan Armed Forces in his speech and criticized national institutions, after which the Azad Kashmir government took immediate action and registered a sedition case against them.
It is worth noting that the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee had called for a statewide strike from June 9, a long march towards Muzaffarabad, and a siege of the assembly.
Earlier, the Azad Kashmir government and the Home Department, using their constitutional powers, had declared the Joint Awami Action Committee as banned.
After this, following the verification of material appearing on social media, a case was registered at Sotha Police Station, Civil Secretariat Muzaffarabad, against Khawaja Mehran Arshad, son of Khawaja Arshad, resident of Dadyal, a core member of the banned committee.
Besides, on June 14, while addressing participants of a sit-in in Dareek, Rawalakot, Khawaja Mehran made statements against state institutions, government employees, and particularly the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Sources further said that Khawaja Mehran Arshad and other members also used inappropriate language against employees of the state of Jammu and Kashmir and attempted to incite people to rebellion against the state.
Furthermore, Khawaja Mehran’s alleged anti-state speech video went viral on social media, in which he is accused of inciting Kashmiri youths serving in the Pakistan Army to rebel and telling them to return to Azad Kashmir.
Taking notice of the video, the Azad Kashmir government ordered action against Khawaja Mehran under Section 124-A of the Penal Code, after which Azad Kashmir police initiated legal proceedings against him.
Also Read: Saudi Crown Prince lauds Pakistan’s efforts in US-Iran peace deal
