• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Kashmiri diaspora protested PoJK human rights violations in Bradford.
  2. They condemned Pakistani forces for civilian deaths and arbitrary crackdowns
  3. Protesters urged international community to monitor and investigate PoJK.

Members of the Kashmiri diaspora, human rights activists, and community representatives on Monday staged a protest outside the Pakistani Consulate in Bradford, UK. The protest was held to express deep outrage over systemic human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The protesters condemned Pakistani authorities for unleashing excessive force and arbitrary crackdowns against residents participating in peaceful protests in the region.

Why Is Kashmiri Diaspora Protesting?

They claimed that several civilians were killed and injured during firing by Pakistani security forces in PoJK. According to news agency Reuters report, 11 people, including seven civilians and four police officers, were killed in clashes in Rawalakot, while hundreds were injured. More than 100 people have also been arrested.

The protesters demanded immediate global accountability from Islamabad, accusing its security apparatus of actively suppressing civic freedoms and using violence to silence legitimate civilian dissent in the region. They alleged that authorities have also imposed curfews and movement restrictions in several districts, including Sudhanoti and Poonch. This has reportedly disrupted daily life and limited access to essential services.

They have further urged the international community, including the United Nations, human rights bodies, elected officials, and global media to closely monitor the region and back credible investigations to uncover the facts.

Protests In PoJK

The protests in PoJK had erupted over demands for basic rights, economic relief, affordable electricity, and greater government accountability. The unrest intensified after the death of a trader who was allegedly shot during a confrontation with law enforcement. Authorities claimed that some protesters later attacked a military hospital in Rawalakot.

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Pak HRCP Response

Pakistan's Human Rights Commission (HRCP) said it was deeply concerned about the violence in the region. The HRCP condemned the deaths of both civilians and security personnel and criticised the use of excessive force and communication blackouts. It stressed that people have the right to peaceful protest and called for transparent dialogue and inclusive negotiations to address public grievances.

The commission also questioned the decision to ban the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) under anti-terrorism laws ahead of its planned protest on June 9. HRCP announced that it would send a fact-finding mission to assess the situation. JAAC has long campaigned for economic and political reforms, including the removal of 12 refugee-reserved seats in the regional assembly.

India's Position

Meanwhile, India continues to maintain that Pakistan is in illegal possession of territories in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh. New Delhi recently objected to Pakistan’s announcement of plans to hold elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in territories that India says are illegally and forcibly occupied by Pakistan.

In a press release, issued on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated India’s long-standing position that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including Gilgit-Baltistan, are an “integral and inalienable part of India.” It said this status is based on the legal and irrevocable accession of J&K to India in 1947.

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