Explained: Why are protests raging in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and what sparked the deadly unrest? | Today’s news
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has seen weeks of violent unrest ahead of regional parliamentary elections, with protesters demanding electoral reforms, authorities accusing protesters of trying to disrupt the election and international human rights groups calling for an independent investigation into the violence.
The crisis has resulted in dozens of deaths, mass arrests, internet shutdowns and disagreements over what triggered the violence.
What sparked the protests?
The protests are being led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), an umbrella group of businessmen, activists and political workers.
According to Al Jazeera, the movement initially emerged due to rising electricity tariffs and food prices, but later focused on political reforms ahead of regional elections.
Her main demand is to abolish the 12 seats reserved for refugees from Kashmir (Indian part) in the PoK Legislative Assembly.
JAAC argues that these reserved seats allow people living outside the region to influence local politics and allow Pakistan’s main political parties to shape the composition of the assembly.
Read also | What is behind the deadly violence in PoK? Banned group, death of a businessman, protests
Why are refugee chairs controversial?
According to Al Jazeera, PoK reserves 12 legislative seats for refugees from Kashmir (the Indian part) who now live elsewhere in Pakistan.
JAAC argues that these legislators have undue influence despite not being based in the territory.
The dispute escalated after the county’s Supreme Court ruled in June that the refugee seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment, the AP reported.
How did the protests turn violent?
The demonstrations, which began in June, escalated after security forces moved to disperse protest camps and authorities imposed internet restrictions and made arrests, according to The Guardian.
The regional government subsequently banned JAAC under anti-terrorism laws.
However, the Pakistani government presented a different account.
According to the AP, officials said armed and masked protesters opened fire on police and security personnel deployed during the election, prompting security forces to respond in self-defense.
Authorities also alleged that members of the Pakistani Taliban infiltrated the protests and attempted to disrupt the election process.
JAAC has rejected allegations that the movement is backed by militants or India.
Read also | Then the government was forced to look for a way to negotiate amid PoK protests
How many people were killed?
The death toll remains disputed.
According to The Guardian, citing JAAC, at least 30 people have been killed in the past two days, while around 40 people have reportedly died since the unrest began in June.
According to the AP, Pakistani authorities confirmed casualties among security personnel but did not immediately confirm the civilian deaths reported by protesters.
Officials claimed the security personnel acted in self-defense.
Why was the internet down?
According to The Guardian, authorities banned internet and mobile communications across much of PoK after the protests intensified.
The breakdown in communications made it difficult for journalists, civil society groups and residents to independently verify events on the ground.
Why was JAAC banned?
According to the AP, the regional government recently declared JAAC a banned organization under anti-terrorism laws, citing public order and security concerns.
Officials say the group tried to sabotage the election and that armed militants infiltrated the protests.
Authorities released videos showing masked gunmen shooting at security personnel and claimed to have recovered assault rifles from the suspects.
JAAC denied being a militant organization and rejected allegations that it received support from India.
What did Pakistan say?
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other officials said the protests had ceased to be peaceful and said armed militants had joined the protesters, according to the AP.
The government says security forces only responded after they were attacked.
Tarar also claimed that the protests were receiving “funding and direction” from India, according to The Guardian.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif defended Islamabad’s violent crackdown on the protesters, calling the agitators “enemies like India”.
“I put the protesters of Azad Kashmir in the same category as India and I also consider them enemies like India,” Pakistan’s defense minister said in a video shared on X.
JAAC denied the allegations.
What did India say?
India has linked the unrest to Pakistan’s administration of the region.
According to Al Jazeera, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said the violence was “a direct result of Pakistan’s decades-long systematic exploitation” of PoK.
What did the UN and Amnesty International say?
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for a “swift, thorough and impartial investigation” into all deaths of civilians and security forces, according to Al Jazeera. He also called for meaningful political dialogue to address basic grievances.
Amnesty International called on Pakistan to restore internet and mobile services and allow journalists and independent observers to enter the region.
According to The Guardian, Amnesty said long-term communication breakdowns hampered independent verification of events and called for an independent investigation into reports that security forces used unlawful force against protesters.
