The intensity of police actions reportedly escalated on July 5 in Muzaffarabad, amidst widespread protests against a significant crackdown by authorities in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Demonstrators protested against the alleged brutal treatment of civil rights activists, with reports of shelling and clashes surfacing from various locations. According to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), security forces engaged in aggressive measures, damaging property and using tear gas on peaceful protesters.

Multiple areas, including Mank Piyan and Lower Chhatra, witnessed violent encounters between demonstrators and security personnel. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the protests, initially peaceful, devolved into chaos as police and Pakistan Rangers responded with live fire and other crowd control measures.

As the unrest unfolded, one individual reportedly lost their life due to gunfire, with numerous others sustaining injuries. The local unit of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) confirmed the fatality, highlighting the escalating tensions and the urgency of the situation in Muzaffarabad.

Mass Mobilisation for Basic Rights

A significant number of individuals, including diverse demographic groups, gathered at the Sardar Ghulam Hussain Khan Sports Stadium in Abbaspor, expressing their demands for basic rights and the release of detained leaders, such as Shaukat Nawaz Mir. The JAAC has underscored the systematic suppression faced by protesters as security forces employed violent tactics to disperse demonstrations.

As protests continued, the JAAC reported that caravans of demonstrators were arriving at protest sites in Rawalakot, and demonstrations were spreading to other regions within PoJK. Activists in various parts of the world have also joined the call for action, with members of the Kashmiri diaspora protesting in cities like Auckland, New Zealand, to advocate for the release of detained activists.

The escalation of protests appears to be a response to a series of heavy-handed actions by the Pakistani government in recent weeks, notably including the prohibition of opposition leaders from entering PoJK. On June 30, the JAAC publicly condemned this limitation on access, labelling it a clear indication of the state’s suppression of political dissent.

Concerns Raised by Human Rights Organisations

The situation in PoJK has attracted the attention of international human rights monitors. Activist Amjad Ayub Mirza has claimed that the crackdown has resulted in the arrests of over 600 JAAC members and supporters following the detention of Mir. He characterised the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as worsening rapidly, stating that pro-democracy protests are being organised not only in PoJK but also internationally.

Amnesty International has condemned the actions of Pakistani authorities, labelling their tactics as a violent approach to suppress peaceful demonstrations and political dissent. The group has accused the government of unlawfully designating the JAAC as a “proscribed organisation,” arguing that such measures represent a breach of fundamental human rights.

In light of escalating tensions, the JAAC has urged peaceful protests throughout PoJK, encouraging participants to carry white flags to symbolise their demands for basic rights while also advocating for non-violence. Authorities have reportedly resorted to surveillance measures, including drones, to monitor protests as local leaders voice their calls for a boycott of forthcoming regional elections scheduled for July 27.

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