Shabir Ahmad
In the hills of what Pakistan calls “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan—territories under illegal occupation—residents face a deepening crisis of lawlessness, systemic human rights violations, and deadly state repression.
Recent waves of protests over economic hardship, inflation, and demands for basic rights have been met with lethal force, internet blackouts, mass arrests, and reports of excessive police and military action, exposing long-standing patterns of control that critics describe as colonial in nature.
In recent months, particularly around May and into 2026, large-scale demonstrations erupted across PoK regions, including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Mirpur, and areas in Gilgit-Baltistan. Protesters, organized under platforms like the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), voiced grievances over soaring prices, lack of economic opportunities, unfulfilled promises of autonomy, and alleged exploitation of local resources.
Clashes with so-called security forces have left dozens dead and hundreds injured. Reports vary, but figures from local activists and media cite at least 9 to over 50 fatalities in specific incidents, including in Rawalakot, where heavy firing occurred on peaceful residents. Security personnel used tear gas, live ammunition, and batons, with allegations of firing on unarmed crowds. One incident in Rawalakot was described as a “massacre” by some voices, with additional deaths in Mirpur and other districts. Pakistani authorities have imposed near-total communication blackouts lasting days, restricting information flow and independent verification.
Amnesty International and local observers have condemned the “violent and sweeping crackdown,” including arbitrary arrests and deadly force against protesters. Families reported loved ones pulled from homes, with women and children caught in the violence. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has highlighted these events as evidence of Pakistan’s human rights abuses and police brutality in the region.
These recent events are not isolated but part of a broader, decades-long pattern documented by international bodies. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has noted in reports that while violations in Pakistan-administered Kashmir differ in scale from those across the Line of Control, they are often more “structural.” Key issues include severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, with the “Azad” interim constitution explicitly prohibiting dissent against Pakistan’s control or the ideology of accession.
Enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and torture remain persistent concerns. Pakistani intelligence agencies, particularly the ISI, have been repeatedly accused of involvement in abductions and extrajudicial killings of activists, journalists, and political figures advocating for greater autonomy or independence. Notable cases include the 2011 killing of a doctor in Muzaffarabad and the 2013 assassination of Sardar Arif Shahid, president of the All Parties National Alliance. Activists from groups like the Kashmir National Party have faced threats and violence.
Freedom House and other monitors describe a heavy military and intelligence presence, surveillance, and misuse of anti-terrorism laws to target critics, journalists, and human rights defenders. Self-censorship is rampant due to pressure on media. Political parties pushing for self-determination or autonomy are suppressed.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, land dispossession linked to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects has fueled resentment. Local communities report illegal acquisition of land without fair compensation, displacing indigenous populations for infrastructure that primarily benefits outsiders. This has sparked protests and accusations of demographic engineering.
Religious minorities, including Shia Muslims in Gilgit-Baltistan and Ahmadis, face sectarian violence, targeted killings, discrimination, and blasphemy law abuses. Systemic marginalization compounds economic neglect in these strategically vital but underdeveloped regions.
Local leaders and exiled activists paint a grim picture. Protesters speak of being treated as second-class citizens in their own land, denied genuine democratic rights despite the “Azad” label. “People are killed for demanding bread and justice,” one activist reportedly said during recent unrest. UK parliamentarians and other international voices have raised alarms over deteriorating conditions, urging accountability.
Human Rights Watch and the UN have called on Pakistan to protect basic rights, end impunity, and allow greater freedoms, though access for independent monitors remains limited. Pakistan often dismisses such criticism or attributes unrest to external interference, while maintaining the territories are integral and well-governed.
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has been under Islamabad’s effective control since 1947-48, following the disputed accession and war with India. Unlike Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, which has seen fluctuating democratic processes (despite its own serious challenges), PoK lacks full constitutional integration or autonomy, functioning more as a dependent entity with limited legislative powers. This setup, critics argue, fosters unaccountable governance and breeds lawlessness.
As protests continue and tensions simmer along the Line of Control, the human cost mounts. Families mourn the dead, activists remain in detention, and a climate of fear persists. For the people of PoK, the promise of “azadi” (freedom) remains elusive—not from India, but from the daily realities of repression under Pakistani administration.
The international community watches closely. Without meaningful reforms, accountability for killings, and respect for fundamental rights, the cycle of lawlessness and violence in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir risks further escalation, with ordinary civilians bearing the heaviest burden.
