Protest in Muzaffarabad Turns Violent
Police brutality by Pakistani forces intensified on Sunday against protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), with reports of shelling, firing, and clashes emerging from several parts of Muzaffarabad. According to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), security forces resorted to shelling, damaging motorcycles of several youths, while police and Pakistan Rangers fired tear gas shells at demonstrators.
Clashes Across Multiple Areas
Clashes between protesters and security personnel were reported from Mank Piyan, Sangi Mera, Tareeqaabad, Lower Chhatra, and Beila Noor Shah. Intense shelling and firing occurred in the Lower Chhatra area as tensions escalated. One person was killed and several others injured after Pakistan Rangers opened fire, according to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) PoJK unit.
Thousands Gather for Peaceful Protest
The JAAC, which called the protest, stated that thousands of people, including women, children, and the elderly, gathered at Sardar Ghulam Hussain Khan Sports Stadium in Abbaspor demanding basic rights and the release of detained leaders, including JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir. Pakistani security forces fired and shelled to disperse peaceful demonstrators, leaving several critically injured.
Wider Mobilization and International Support
Large protest caravans continued to reach the sit-in site in Rawalakot, while demonstrations were held in several other areas of PoJK. Members of the Kashmiri diaspora staged protests in Auckland, New Zealand, demanding the release of detained activists. This mobilization follows a series of heavy-handed actions by Pakistani authorities.
Political Delegation Stopped, Local Elections Boycotted
On June 30, the JAAC criticized Islamabad after a political delegation led by opposition leaders was stopped from entering PoJK, calling it suppression of democratic rights. Activists report that Pakistani forces are using drones for surveillance of sit-in protests, prompting local leaders to call for a complete boycott of local elections scheduled for July 27.
Over 600 Activists Detained
PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza claimed that more than 600 JAAC workers and activists had been detained following the arrest of Shaukat Nawaz Mir. Protests against Pakistan's actions are being organized both in PoJK and abroad. "The situation in Pakistani-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is getting worse by the hour," Mirza said.
Amnesty International Condemns Pakistan's Tactics
Global watchdog Amnesty International strongly condemned Pakistan's heavy-handed tactics ahead of the upcoming regional elections. Amnesty accused authorities of deploying violent measures to suppress peaceful political dissent and violate fundamental human rights, unlawfully designating the JAAC as a "proscribed organisation." Amnesty called the ban a disproportionate attack on freedom of association and peaceful political activism.
