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Rights groups, Amnesty sound alarm over Pakistan’s crackdown in PoJK

Early Times Report

Jammu, June 11: Human rights concerns over the situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) intensified on Thursday, with civil society groups in Jammu and Kashmir joining international rights organisations in condemning the alleged use of excessive force against protesters and calling for an independent investigation into reported abuses.
Leading the chorus of concern, the Association of Terror Victims in Kashmir (ATVK) staged a protest outside the United Nations office in Srinagar, urging the international community to intervene and ensure accountability for alleged human rights violations in PoJK.
The protest came amid growing reports of civilian casualties, arrests and restrictions imposed by Pakistani authorities following demonstrations in various parts of PoJK. Protesters in the region have been demanding accountability, civil rights and an end to the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
Holding placards and raising slogans, ATVK members condemned the reported killing of unarmed civilians and described the crackdown as a serious violation of human rights and democratic freedoms.
In a memorandum submitted to the United Nations, ATVK chairperson Tasleema Akhter expressed deep concern over reports of civilian deaths and alleged human rights abuses in PoJK.
“We strongly condemn the killing of civilian protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Reports of excessive force and violations of fundamental rights against peaceful demonstrators are deeply disturbing,” the memorandum stated.
The association called upon the United Nations, international human rights organisations and global institutions to take cognisance of the situation and facilitate an impartial assessment of the developments in the region.
Tasleema urged the international community to ensure accountability for those responsible for alleged abuses and stressed that the suffering of innocent civilians should not be ignored.
“The international community must act to uphold human rights and ensure justice for the affected civilians,” she said.
The concerns raised by local rights activists were echoed by global human rights watchdog Amnesty International, which issued a strong statement criticising Pakistan’s handling of the protests in PoJK.
Amnesty International accused the authorities of carrying out a sweeping crackdown marked by arbitrary arrests, restrictions on civil liberties, internet shutdowns and the excessive use of force against protesters.
The organisation also criticised the decision to declare the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a grassroots organisation advocating economic and political rights in the region, a “proscribed organisation” under anti-terrorism legislation.
According to Amnesty International, the move represents a disproportionate and unlawful restriction on the right to freedom of association and peaceful political activity.
“The authorities’ violent and sweeping crackdown on protests in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir — including an internet shutdown, mass arbitrary arrests and deadly use of force — continues an alarming deterioration of human rights in the region,” Amnesty said in its statement.
The rights body expressed concern that branding a grassroots organisation as a terrorist entity on what it termed vague grounds, while simultaneously restricting communication and public mobilisation, raised serious questions about Pakistan’s commitment to democratic freedoms and human rights obligations.
Amnesty’s Deputy Regional Director for South Asia, Isabelle Lassee, said the proscription of JKJAAC under anti-terror laws was “disproportionate, unlawful and a violation of the right to freedom of association.”
The criticism from Amnesty International comes amid reports that thousands of residents from different parts of PoJK recently gathered in Rawalakot to protest against the policies of the Pakistani administration and demand justice for civilians allegedly killed or injured during recent demonstrations.
Political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have also voiced concern over the situation. National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah urged the United Nations Human Rights Committee to investigate reports of civilian killings and hardships faced by people in PoJK.
“The world should know what they are going through,” Abdullah said while appealing for an international assessment of the situation.
The developments have triggered widespread concern among political leaders, civil society groups and human rights activists in Jammu and Kashmir, who have called for transparency, accountability and international scrutiny of the reported violations in PoJK.