At least 12 civilians have been killed after Pakistani security forces opened fire on protesters in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), which is witnessing one of its biggest unrests in recent years. The demonstrations, which began over the government’s failure to meet 38 key demands, have grown into a larger agitation against military excesses, bringing normal life in the region to a halt.
The unrest entered its third day on Thursday, with violent clashes reported in Dadyal, prompting the government to rush thousands of additional troops to the region. Protests have spread beyond Muzaffarabad to Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, and Kotli.
According to reports, five protesters were killed in Muzaffarabad, five in Dheerkot, and two in Dadyal. At least three police personnel also lost their lives. More than 200 people have been injured, many critically with gunshot wounds.
Markets, shops, and businesses have remained shut since the protests began on September 29, while mobile, internet, and landline services have been suspended. Visuals circulating on social media showed thousands of demonstrators toppling barricades and hurling stones in Muzaffarabad.
Protesters raised slogans including “Rulers, beware, we are your doom” and “Kashmir is ours, we will decide its fate”, marking a rare direct challenge to both the Pakistani government and its military.
Demands and Political Response
The agitation, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (AAC), centres on several demands, including the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, tax relief, subsidies on flour and electricity, and completion of pending development projects.
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With the situation escalating, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the formation of a negotiation committee to address the protesters’ grievances. While appealing for peace, Sharif, currently in London, directed security forces to exercise “restraint and patience.”
Meanwhile, Nasir Aziz Khan, spokesperson of the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), appealed to the United Nations (UN) and the international community for urgent intervention. Speaking at the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Khan warned of a potential humanitarian crisis in POK.
This latest escalation comes just a week after 30 civilians were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during Pakistan Air Force airstrikes, adding to tensions across the region.
