Muzaffarabad: Widespread protests erupted across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on Saturday after Pakistani authorities intensified their crackdown on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), triggering demonstrations across the region. The unrest follows the arrest of JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir and the reported detention of more than 600 activists, prompting growing concerns over civil liberties, humanitarian conditions, and political freedoms in the territory.
The JAAC, a civil rights organisation active in PoJK, called for coordinated demonstrations across all 10 districts after its leadership accused Pakistani authorities of carrying out mass arrests and suppressing peaceful dissent. Protesters gathered in large numbers in multiple locations, with videos circulating on social media showing crowds demanding the release of detained activists and calling for greater political rights.
JAAC leaders have alleged that the ongoing security operation has disrupted the supply of essential commodities, resulting in shortages of food, medicines, and other basic necessities. They claim that movement restrictions and heightened security measures have significantly affected the daily lives of residents in several districts.
One of the prominent voices during the demonstrations, senior JAAC leader Sardar Aman Khan, appealed to residents across Jammu and Kashmir for support. Addressing a gathering, he stated that people in the region were facing shortages of essential supplies and urged those living across the Line of Control to stand with the movement.
Khan also called for greater engagement across the divide, expressing support for ending barriers that separate communities. In his address, he maintained that the movement remained committed to political dialogue while warning that the people would not accept what he described as continued repression by Pakistani authorities.
During another public address captured in widely shared videos, Khan asked protesters whether they should march towards the ceasefire line. The crowd responded affirmatively, reflecting the growing anger among demonstrators over the ongoing crackdown. He further warned that continued use of force against peaceful protesters could lead to greater resistance, asserting that the local population would respond firmly if confronted with violence.
The protests have also been accompanied by calls for a boycott of the local elections scheduled for July 27. Activists argue that the prevailing political environment, marked by arrests, surveillance, and restrictions on public gatherings, does not permit free and fair democratic participation.
According to activists, Pakistani security forces have deployed drones to monitor protest sites and public sit-ins, increasing concerns about surveillance and restrictions on civil rights. JAAC has urged participants to carry white flags during demonstrations as a symbol of peaceful protest while continuing to press for fundamental rights.
The latest developments come amid increasing international attention on Pakistan’s handling of dissent in the region. Amnesty International has criticised the ban imposed on the JAAC and expressed concern over reports of arbitrary arrests and restrictions targeting political activists. Human rights advocates have also highlighted allegations of widespread surveillance and limitations on freedom of expression ahead of the upcoming local elections.
Tensions had already been rising in recent weeks. On June 30, the JAAC criticised Pakistani authorities after an opposition delegation was reportedly prevented from entering PoJK. The organisation described the incident as another example of restrictions placed on political activity and democratic engagement within the territory.
Prominent PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza has also voiced concern over the deteriorating situation. He claimed that July 5, a day traditionally observed by Pakistan as Kashmir Solidarity Day, had instead become a day of protest against Islamabad’s policies in the region. Mirza further alleged that thousands of people were expected to participate in demonstrations in London to highlight what organisers describe as human rights violations and the suppression of democratic movements in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The domestic protests coincide with international criticism and demonstrations over the reported humanitarian situation in the region. Earlier this month, the National Anti-Terrorism Front India staged a protest outside the United Nations office, calling for global attention to allegations of rights violations, mass arrests, and the worsening humanitarian conditions in PoJK.
The current wave of protests represents one of the largest public mobilisations witnessed in the territory in recent months. While JAAC leaders continue to insist that their movement is peaceful and focused on civil rights, the arrests of hundreds of activists and the heavy deployment of security forces have heightened tensions across the region.
