Unrest is still going on across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, or POK, even as people complain about the recent elections and alleged meddling by Islamabad. It’s not really calming down, at least not in any visible way. Reportedly, over 20 protesters have been killed after security forces opened fire during the demonstrations, and hundreds more have been hurt, which is getting international attention.
POK Protest Deaths Trigger International Concern
Residents taking to the streets, linked to the banned Joint Awami Action Committee, say the first phase of the elections was packed with irregularities. They also claim Pakistan’s military and political leadership influenced how the vote was run, so the frustration spread fast across the region, and it stays there.
Rather than sit down with protesters, the authorities have kept up a crackdown. Some reports say internet and communication services have been disrupted, and security forces allegedly used live ammunition against demonstrators, especially around Rawalakot. And people are saying the response was harsh.
Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission has criticised the government and asked for an independent investigation into the deaths. Kashmiri activists have also protested abroad, and they urged the United Nations to step in, sooner rather than later.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah questioned why the Indian government has stayed quiet, and he urged New Delhi to raise the issue internationally. He further called for a UN team to visit the region, to see what’s happening directly.
The continuing unrest seems tied to growing public anger about alleged political interference and democratic suppression in POK. If the violence keeps going, international scrutiny is expected to rise even more, and that pressure could get harder for everyone involved.
