Islamabad, July 28: In a tragic turn of events, at least 20 individuals lost their lives, and dozens more were severely injured during a long march organized by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PaK). This incident occurred amid escalating actions by Pakistani authorities against protesters in the region.
The death toll is expected to rise, as many of the injured are reported to be in critical condition. On Tuesday, the JAC shared details on the social media platform X, stating, “The long march caravan has reached Rawalakot city. So far, 19 fatalities have been confirmed, while one individual, whose identity documents are missing, was shot in the head; his body is at the Palandri Hospital. Thus, the total number of deaths has reached at least 20. Further details will follow.”
The statement continued, “Protesters are currently gathered at Chandni Chowk in Rawalakot. At dawn, a gathering will take place at Shaheed Chowk, where further actions will be announced.”
This march was organized after negotiations between the JAC and Pakistani officials yielded no acceptable results for either party, prompting another call for public demonstrations.
The march began on Sunday from the Mirpur Division, with the caravan gathering in Rawalakot before proceeding towards Muzaffarabad on Monday. Meanwhile, the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) drew attention to the increasing human rights violations in PaK, urging the international community to take notice.
According to reports, the group accused Pakistani security forces of violently suppressing peaceful protesters in Rawalakot on Monday evening. They alleged that lethal weapons, heavy gunfire, tear gas, and other forms of force were used, resulting in numerous casualties.
Expressing concern over the reported violence, the UKPNP stated, “The use of gunfire and lethal weapons continues, heightening fears for the lives of ordinary citizens.” The group called on the United Nations, international human rights organizations, and democratic governments to take immediate action against the Pakistani military’s use of deadly weapons, shelling, and excessive force against peaceful civilians.
The ongoing protests in PaK have emerged as a direct challenge to Islamabad’s long-standing control over the region. The Pakistani military has repeatedly responded with brutal force, leading to numerous civilian casualties, all while the area remains under strict lockdown, curfew, and a complete communication blackout.
Last month, India criticized Pakistan for attempting to conceal its misdeeds during the crackdown on protesters in PaK, alleging that it was diverting attention from human rights violations by spreading fake news and videos.
During weekly media briefings, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed hope that the international community would hold Pakistan accountable for its actions. When asked about the ongoing protests and the crackdown on demonstrators, Jaiswal responded, “Reports of police brutality in Pakistan-administered Kashmir indicate that many have died and many others have been injured. We hope the international community will hold Pakistan responsible for its wrongdoings.”
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