Pakistani forces open fire on peaceful rally in PoJK, several injured
Pakistani security forces opened unprovoked fire and shelled a civilian gathering at the AMB location in Dudial on July 5, 2026, according to the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The attack resulted in several severe injuries, with multiple demonstrators in critical condition. The JAAC reported that the forces targeted a peaceful protest that was part of a massive uprising against Pakistani rule in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
40,000 gather in Abbaspor despite crackdown
Nearly 40,000 people, including children, women, and the elderly, gathered at the Sardar Ghulam Hussain Khan Sports Stadium in Abbaspor on Sunday, defying a heavy-handed state crackdown. The JAAC organized the protest to demand fundamental rights and the immediate release of its arrested leaders and activists. The demonstration has transformed into a major public rally challenging Pakistani authority.
Resistance spreads across occupied territory
Large caravans of citizens continue to arrive at a protest sit-in in Dera Ismail Khan, where crowds chant revolutionary slogans against state oppression. The JAAC noted that women from Rawalakot and Chak are leading peaceful street protests, defying intimidation by Pakistani authorities. The movement has also gone global, with the Kashmiri diaspora staging a demonstration in Auckland, New Zealand, condemning the arrest of JAAC core committee member Shaukat Nawaz Mir.
Arrest of Shaukat Nawaz Mir triggers escalation
The high-profile detention of Shaukat Nawaz Mir has sparked a major spike in tensions. The JAAC posted on X expressing resentment, stating, "Ghulam is under their control. Shah is in captivity..." and called for public action under the hashtag #ReleaseShoukatNawazMir. Over 600 workers and activists of the committee have been arrested so far, according to activist Amjad Ayub Mirza.
JAAC leader appeals for cross-border support
In a viral video, Sardar Aman Khan, a core JAAC member, appealed to people in Mendhar, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and across the ceasefire line for help, citing shortages of rations and medicines. He called for an end to the ceasefire line and urged political dialogue. In another video, Khan asked the crowd, "Should we step towards the ceasefire line or not?" to which they roared "Yes!"
JAAC warns Pakistan of retaliation
Khan warned the Pakistani regime, saying, "If the response is bullets, then we also have options. Don't complain tomorrow... if you offer cruelty, we'll offer cruelty." He declared that locals would match Pakistan's actions measure for measure. In a separate video, he detailed the regional dimensions, addressing people in the Kashmir Valley, Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Ladakh, Kargil, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Massive protest call for July 5 aims for half a million
The JAAC issued a call for peaceful demonstrations across PoJK, aiming to gather 500,000 participants. Using its X handle, the committee listed the estimated population by district, totaling approximately 4.39 million, and urged at least 50,000 people from each of the 10 districts to come out peacefully with white flags. The goal is to bypass censorship and grab global attention to isolate Pakistan's suppressive tactics.
International condemnation of Pakistan's tactics
Amnesty International strongly condemned Pakistan's heavy-handed measures ahead of regional elections, accusing authorities of suppressing peaceful political dissent and unlawfully designating the JAAC as a proscribed organization. On July 2, the National Anti-Terrorism Front India protested outside the United Nations office, demanding global intervention. In Bradford, UK, activist Mahmood Kashmiri interrupted a cultural event to criticize Pakistan's human rights violations.
Background: State suppression and humanitarian crisis
The uprising follows years of systemic cruelty and acute shortages under Pakistani rule. Sardar Aman Khan highlighted the desperation, stating, "There is a shortage of rations, a shortage of medicines." Pakistani forces are reportedly using drones for surveillance of sit-in protests, and local leaders have called for a boycott of elections scheduled for July 27. The JAAC has faced a ban and arrests, but the movement continues to swell.
