PoK unrest escalates; Human rights bodies demand independent probe

New Delhi: The situation in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) remains tense after widespread violence that has led to at least 20 deaths, with human rights bodies expressing deep concern and a formal complaint moved to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. No official casualty toll has been released by Pakistani authorities yet, with activists leading the protest claiming that hospitals have been overflowing with the dead and injured, even beyond Rawalakot that was the centre of the clashes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s defence minister Khawaja Asif has ruled out dialogue with the protestors, labeling them as enemies and equating them with India. “There will be no dialogue with the protesters. I bracket them with India. I put them in the same category as India and consider them as enemies of Pakistan,” he said.

At least 20 activists of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) have been killed and dozens injured in clashes with law enforcement personnel since Monday, as the first round of polls took place in PoK. The JAAC has alleged massive rigging of the polls and pressed demands for just elections and removing Islamabad’s influence in the selection of candidates. Protests also reached the United Kingdom on Wednesday, with British Kashmiris campaigning outside the Pakistani consulate in Birmingham against the violence. Protestors raised anti-Pakistani Army slogans and asked for accountability for the dozens of reported deaths.

Also Read: PoK violence: 20 dead in clashes over rigged elections, JAAC says

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) raised the matter on Wednesday, asking the government to end the cycle of violence. Saying that it is deeply alarmed by reports of several people losing their lives in the clashes, the commission said that maintenance of public order should not come at the expense of the right to life. “We call for an immediate end to this cycle of violence and a prompt, impartial and independent investigation into the reported deaths and injuries, and for anyone responsible for unlawful use of force to be held to account. We also urge the authorities to exercise restraint in responding to the protests,” an HRCP statement read.

A communications blackout in PoK has made it difficult to ascertain the extent of violence and casualties but reports have emerged of security forces opening live fire on groups of marching protesters, making Tuesday the single bloodiest day of the protests by JAAC so far. Another human rights body, the Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory, on Tuesday, moved a formal memorandum in Geneva to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, seeking urgent preventive action.