Nasir Aziz Khan, a spokesperson for the United Kashmir People National Party (UKPNP), called on the United Nations and the global community to step in and stop Pakistan’s increasing crackdown in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). He shared these concerns during the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 1.
Khan painted a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in PoJK, where tensions are boiling over. He pointed to key international agreements like the Vienna Declaration, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), urging UN member states to uphold their duty to safeguard basic freedoms.
The spark for the unrest comes from widespread protests organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) in PoJK. On September 29, they launched a full shutdown and wheel-jam strike, highlighting locals’ anger over years of neglect, resource exploitation, and denied rights. Protesters want control over their own resources, fundamental human rights, and real justice.
Khan accused Pakistan of sending in Rangers paramilitary forces and cutting off phone and internet services to crush this peaceful movement. He said more than three million people in PoJK now face a virtual siege, while two million Kashmiris living abroad can’t reach their families because of the digital blackout. “This is a calculated move to silence voices and cut people off from the world right when they’re standing up nonviolently,” Khan added.
He pressed Pakistan to hold back from using force against peaceful demonstrators and to tackle their fair demands head-on. Khan also asked the UN to send fact-finding teams immediately to probe human rights abuses and protect PoJK residents.
In Muzaffarabad, PoJK’s capital, the JKJAAC-led protests started as a simple shutdown but quickly escalated into violence. At least three people have died, and more than 22 others suffered injuries. The demonstrations stem from the local government’s refusal to meet 38 key demands, such as scrapping reserved seats in the assembly—Pakistan recently eliminated 12 seats set aside for Kashmiri refugees resettled there.
Demonstrators are pushing hard for economic fixes, too: lower electricity bills, cheaper subsidized wheat flour, and an end to lavish perks for officials. They also demand free education and healthcare for everyone in PoJK. The protests have spread to districts like Mirpur and Kotli, with crowds chanting for basic rights and more self-rule. Organizers promise to keep going until officials listen, threatening bigger actions if ignored.
Pakistan’s authorities have ramped up their response, deploying extra police and Rangers in Muzaffarabad and beyond. They’ve suspended mobile and internet services across the region and held flag marches to keep the peace. Daily life in PoJK has ground to a halt—markets, shops, and businesses stay shuttered, leading to massive economic hits estimated at 500 million Pakistani rupees. Small traders, already squeezed by soaring inflation, are hurting the most from the standstill.
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