India accuses Pak forces of brutalities in PoK: 12 civilian killed during violent protests in past 3-days

Widespread protests have erupted across several areas in PoK, with people demanding basic rights, justice, and an end to what they call systemic oppression.

Pakistan must be held accountable: MEA

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen reports on protests in several areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians. We believe that it is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and systemic plundering of resources from these territories, which remain under its forcible and illegal occupation. Pakistan must be held accountable for its horrific human rights violations.”

12 civilians dies so far

12 civilians have been killed over the past three days in violent protests across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as demonstrators clashed with Pakistani security forces over political and economic issues.

These protests are being held at the behest of the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC). Protesters accuse the government of ignoring fundamental rights and failing to control inflation.

They have placed 38 demands before the government, including the abolition of 12 reserved seats in the PoK Assembly.

Demand to abolish the 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan. Power projects should consider the benefits of local people. Demand to provide discounts on flour and electricity bills, as people are suffering from inflation.

Why is there a demand to abolish the 12 reserved seats in PoK?

These seats are reserved for refugees or migrants from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir who migrated to PoK from India due to the 1947, 1965, and 1971 wars or subsequent conflicts.

Reserved seats underrepresent the local population. Local people want more MLAs elected to address their issues and needs. The JKJAAC says that reserved seats are benefiting only a few families.

India has said that Bangladesh's interim government has failed to maintain law and order. Bangladesh's Home Advisor, Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, blamed India for the violence in Khagrachhari last week.

Reacting to these allegations, Jaiswal said, "We reject these false and baseless allegations." He added that the interim government has a habit of shifting the blame.

Jaiswal advised Bangladesh to investigate the extremists who are involved in violence, arson, and land grabbing against minority communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.