Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has accused militant elements embedded within the proscribed Jam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat-wal-Jamat (JAAC) protests of advancing a foreign-funded agenda aimed at destabilizing the country.
The minister’s comments follow days of escalating tensions and road blockades linked to the group’s demonstrations. Tarar claimed the government possesses intelligence linking specific agitators to external actors, suggesting the protests are less about religious grievances and more about manufactured unrest.
“We have evidence that these elements are not acting on their own,” Tarar told reporters in Islamabad. “They are being directed from outside to create chaos, disrupt the economy, and challenge the writ of the state.”
The government’s decision to designate the group as proscribed has put security forces on high alert. Authorities have begun a crackdown, citing reports of violence and the use of inflammatory rhetoric that threatens public order. Tarar maintained that the state would not tolerate any group using religious platforms to execute a foreign-led sabotage campaign.
Critics of the government, however, argue that the “foreign agenda” narrative is a recurring tactic used to silence dissent and deflect from domestic policy failures. While the government insists it is protecting national security, civil society groups have raised concerns regarding the broad application of anti-terrorism laws during political crackdowns.
Despite the pressure, the interior ministry remains firm. Officials have signaled that the crackdown will continue until the protest sites are cleared and those accused of inciting violence are brought to trial.
For now, the government’s focus remains on restoring traffic flows and preventing further clashes. Whether this strategy will stifle the movement or fuel further resentment remains the central question for the administration in the coming days.
