Pakistani forces open fire on protesters in PoK:40,000 people gather against government, several injured

Pakistani security forces opened fire on a protest rally organised by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on Sunday. According to an ANI report, the JAAC said around 40,000 people had gathered at the Sardar Ghulam Hussain Khan Sports Stadium in Abbaspur. The group alleged that forces fired without provocation on demonstrators protesting peacefully in the AMB area of Dudial, leaving several people seriously injured. There has been no official confirmation of the number of injured, nor any response from the Pakistani authorities so far. The JAAC said the protest was directed against the government in Islamabad and is part of an ongoing movement over the arrest of its leaders and activists, administrative shortcomings, and demands for basic rights. The organisation has called for the immediate release of those detained. Visuals from the incident People arrived from several areas, protests abroad too Convoys of people from several areas continued to arrive at the ongoing sit-in site in Dera Ismail Khan, according to reports, with significant participation also seen from women, children, and elderly demonstrators. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) said women from Rawalakot and Chak are also taking to the streets and leading parts of the movement. The organisation claimed that protesters have remained defiant despite pressure from the administration. Separately, on JAAC’s appeal, members of the Kashmiri community in Auckland, New Zealand, staged a protest demanding the release of JAAC core committee member Shaukat Nawaz Mir, whose arrest they oppose. JAAC said tensions have risen across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) following his detention. It has also launched a social media campaign titled “Release Shaukat Mir,” urging wider support. Protesters reportedly raised slogans such as “Long Live Kashmir” and “Long Live the People.” Target to mobilise 5 lakh people JAAC has set a target of mobilising up to 5 lakh people for its ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). In a social media post, the organisation shared estimated population figures for 10 districts of the region, stating that if around 50,000 people from each district join the demonstrations, the total participation could reach five lakh. JAAC has appealed for peaceful protests, urging participants to carry white flags and maintain discipline. It said the objective is to convey to the international community that the movement is focused solely on demands for basic rights. 30 people killed in violence last month On 8 June, 30 people were killed and more than 200 others injured during violent clashes between police and protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). According to Reuters, the unrest took place amid an ongoing dispute between the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the regional administration. Four police personnel were among those killed, while 23 security officials and around 50 protesters were reported injured. Police have also arrested 30 people so far. The tensions stem from a long-running disagreement over 12 reserved seats in the PoJK assembly, set aside for refugees who migrated from Jammu and Kashmir to other parts of Pakistan. The JAAC has been demanding the abolition of these seats. India sought intervention from the international community India has accused Pakistan of circulating fake news and manipulated videos related to the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there is a consistent pattern of misinformation being spread by Pakistan in this context, calling it an attempt to deflect attention from its internal failures and alleged human rights violations. Jaiswal also said reports emerging from PoJK point to incidents of police action in which several people have been killed and many others injured. He added that India expects the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its actions and alleged rights violations in the region. Ban on JAAC led to violence The government banned the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) on 5 June under anti-terrorism laws, with tensions in the region escalating since then. On Sunday, JAAC activists were reportedly staging a protest outside a hospital mortuary over the death of a member of the organisation, who they allege was killed in police firing. Clashes broke out after police arrived to disperse the demonstrators, leading to an outbreak of violence. Rawalakot Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan told Reuters that four policemen and a passerby were killed in firing by protesters, while six protesters were killed in retaliatory action by security forces. Meanwhile, according to Dawn, police have alleged that individuals linked to the JAAC used shotguns and other weapons against security personnel. Authorities described the incident as a terrorist act, stating that law and order and civilian safety would not be compromised. Elections in PoK set for 27 July amid tensions Following the Gilgit-Baltistan polls, elections to the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) Assembly are scheduled for 27 July. The assembly has a total of 53 seats, of which 45 are directly elected, while eight are reserved for women, technical experts and religious scholars. The assembly’s term is five years. In the 2021 elections, Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 25 of the 45 directly elected seats and formed the government, with Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi taking office as prime minister. However, PTI’s federal government in Islamabad collapsed in April 2022, triggering political instability in the region. In May 2022, Niazi resigned and PTI appointed Sardar Tanveer Ilyas as his successor. He was later disqualified by the PoJK High Court in April 2023 on contempt charges, forcing him out of office. Subsequently, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq assumed the role of prime minister. He later distanced himself from PTI and positioned himself as an independent leader. In November 2025, he was removed following a no-confidence motion, and Faisal Mumtaz Rathore of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is currently serving as the prime minister. ​