Protest in Pakistan’s Kashmir stalls after nine killed in clashes | Protests News
Nine Killed in Clashes Ahead of Planned Protest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — At least nine people were killed in violent clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday, as a planned protest march toward the region’s capital, Muzaffarabad, faced significant disruptions amid heightened tensions.
Officials reported that security personnel conducted a raid on a residence in Rawalakot town, located in the Poonch district, following a tip-off about a suspected weapons cache. During the raid, gunfire erupted, resulting in the death of an officer.
In a separate incident in Sudhnoti district, protesters obstructed a security convoy, which was then subjected to stone-throwing and gunfire. Officials confirmed that seven protesters and one police officer lost their lives in the confrontation. Law enforcement stated that the response of security personnel was in self-defense.
The unrest in the region has been ongoing since June 5, when the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a key group spearheading the protest movement, was banned under anti-terrorism laws.
Despite plans to commence their march at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, protesters affiliated with the JAAC remained in Rawalakot as evening approached. Authorities have imposed significant restrictions on internet and phone access in the region, complicating communication efforts with the protesters.
Munir Qureshi, deputy commissioner of Muzaffarabad, reported a calm situation in the capital and nearby areas. “Muzaffarabad and its adjoining areas are all clear, and there is no disturbance to public life,” he stated, adding that limited internet access was a precautionary measure due to security concerns.
Liaqat Ali Malik, inspector general of police for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), estimated the crowd in Rawalakot at between 3,000 and 4,000 people, asserting there had been no violence on that day.
The current unrest is rooted in a longstanding political dispute regarding 12 legislative seats designated for Kashmiri refugees who migrated to Pakistan following the 1947 partition and currently reside outside the region. The JAAC contends that this arrangement allows political parties based in Pakistan to exert influence over the governance of Pakistan-administered Kashmir while diverting development funds away from the region.
In a ruling last month, the Supreme Court of the region asserted that these seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment, intensifying the JAAC’s protests.
Elections in the region are scheduled for July 27. Since the protests began on June 4, at least 28 people have died, and 79 have been injured, according to official reports. Approximately 4,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed throughout the region in preparation for the forthcoming march to Muzaffarabad.
Khan, the Poonch commissioner, indicated that marchers would not be permitted to traverse Rawalakot and would instead need to utilize mountain paths to reach their destination.
