Web Desk: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has reinstated 177 previously withdrawn first information reports (FIRs) following a breakdown in talks with a public action committee, while also signaling a tougher stance on future negotiations, officials said on Thursday.
The government issued a formal notification confirming the restoration of the cases, which had been dropped months earlier as part of an agreement reached with the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee.
Under the earlier understanding, authorities had withdrawn FIRs against 177 individuals linked to the protest movement. However, the AJK government has now reversed that decision, reinstating all previously withdrawn cases along with newly registered FIRs, according to the notification.
Officials said the move reflects a shift in policy following what they described as the collapse of ongoing engagement with the group.
Meanwhile, authorities said no further negotiations would be held with the committee.
They urged those involved to surrender their weapons and present themselves before law enforcement, signaling an escalation in enforcement measures.
A senior government statement said individuals should “lay down arms and submit to the law,” underscoring a stricter approach toward groups accused of challenging state authority.
The development comes amid continued tensions between the administration and the public action committee, which has previously mobilized protests over governance and rights-related issues in the region.
The earlier withdrawal of FIRs was seen as part of confidence-building measures aimed at de-escalation. However, the latest decision marks a reversal of that approach, potentially setting the stage for renewed confrontation.
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