Massive protests continue in PoK: At least 12 killed in clashes with security forces

At least 12 civilians were killed in the past three days as violent protests rocked Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). For the past few days, demonstrators have been clashing with Pakistani security forces over political and economic grievances.

The most recent instance of a violent clash took place on Wednesday when eight civilians were killed during confrontations at Neelum Bridge and other locations. According to All India Radio (AIR), four people died in Drikot Bagh district, while two each were reported dead in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur.

As per the report, the protests were led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), and the violent demonstrations have managed to paralyse PoK over the past 72 hours. Amid the chaos, heavily armed patrols conducted flag marches through PoK towns as thousands of troops were rerouted to the region from the neighbouring Punjab province.

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Apart from this, an additional 1,000 personnel were dispatched from Islamabad to take hold of the situation as clashes continued to intensify.

The cause behind the clashes

It is pertient to note that the protests came after 30 civilians were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following airstrikes by Pakistan Air Force J-17 fighter jets. As per the report, the jets were using Chinese-made LS-6 laser-guided bombs.

Nasir Aziz Khan, spokesperson of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), called on the United Nations and the International Community to intervene in the matter, highlighting Pakistan’s growing repression in PoJK.

While speaking at the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Khan warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the region. He reminded the gathering of their obligations enshrined in the Vienna Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and other core human rights treaties to protect fundamental freedoms, AIR reported.

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While speaking on the ongoing protests in PoK, Khan said that the Joint Awami Action Committee had called for a complete shutdown and wheel-jam strike on 29 September, reflecting the growing frustration of locals against deprivation and exploitation.

The unrest that has wreaked havoc in the region is in response to the government’s failure to address the committee’s 38 demands, including the elimination of reserved seats in PoJK; 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan were abolished.

With inputs from agencies.