Protests in PoK Turn Violent: Over a Dozen Dead, Pakistan Forces Accused of Excessive Force
Protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), led by Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKACC), have turned violent, resulting in over a dozen deaths and numerous injuries. Pakistani forces have been accused of using excessive force against their own citizens.
The protests, announced by JKACC chief Shaukat Nawaz Mir, saw two civilians killed and several injured in Muzaffarabad. In Dadyal, two individuals died and ten were injured when police fired on a convoy of JKACC workers. The death toll rose further in Dhirkot, where four civilians were killed and 16 injured in a similar incident.
The Pakistan establishment has a history of blaming such internal turmoil on external forces, such as India, to avoid accountability. Recently, it labeled the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgency in Balochistan as 'Indian sponsored'. However, the Chief Secretary of the PoK government has invited JKACC leaders for negotiations, warning of strict action if protests persist.
The JKACC has announced further protests, with workers in London planning to gather outside the Pakistan High Commission on October 2. The death toll in PoK protests continues to rise, with Pakistani forces facing criticism for their response to the demonstrations.
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