MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Inspector General of Police (IGP) Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Liaqat Ali Malik, has dismissed the BBC news story regarding food and medicine supply in the region as fabricated and baseless.
Earlier, BBC Urdu published a report claiming that police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir stopped civilians carrying food, medicines, and fuel and ordered them to destroy these supplies.
Addressing the press briefing in Muzaffarabad, IGP Liaqat Malik stated that the British media outlet made baseless allegations in order to mislead the public on the issue in Azad Kashmir under its Western interests, adding that the AJK Police didn’t stop any vehicle carrying commodities.
He clarified that the law and order situation in Azad Kashmir is completely under control, and the AJK Police is always there to serve and help the people.”All roads within the AJK and entry and exit routes are open, and business activities are going on as usual.”
Moreover, the IGP of Azad Kashmir strongly denied the propaganda being spread on social media regarding the AJK. Referring to the BBC Urdu news report, he said that before broadcasting such irresponsible news, facts should be verified from the Azad Kashmir Police.
He also informed about the contact numbers of the AJK Police Help Desk and said that if any person needs information about the situation of roads, routes, or any area, they can contact these numbers to get authentic and official information.
IG appealed to the public to be wary of fake, misleading, and negative propaganda campaigns circulating on social media.
He also requested the national and international media, especially the electronic media, to broadcast news based on verified and authentic information and to verify with the relevant official sources or contact numbers before running the news.
Earlier on Wednesday, in a post on X, the Fact Check account of the AJK government also debunked the BBC Urdu’s report, terming it contrary to the facts.
It stated that the report’s headline and allegation rely entirely on the account of a single anonymous source, adding that “no video evidence, independent witnesses, official record, or third-party verification has been provided” to substantiate this serious claim.
Similarly, the press conference jointly addressed by the Chief Secretary of AJK and the IGP on June 23 also categorically refuted the claims running on social media about the closure of routes by the local police.
The officials provided facts, stating that the inconvenience on roads was caused by protestors of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) who tried to stop and loot trucks laden with commodities arriving in the region.
It said law enforcement agencies took timely action, provided security to the goods and vehicles, and ensured that the routes remained open.
