Azad Kashmir clashes leave 11 dead before July elections

In Pakistan‑administered Azad Kashmir, violent clashes erupted ahead of the scheduled July 27 legislative assembly elections. The Joint Action Appeal Committee (JAAC) organized a protest against the allocation of 12 of the 45 assembly seats to refugees, calling for a strike.

During the pre‑election protest, security forces and demonstrators exchanged gunfire. Authorities reported that 11 people were killed, including four police officers, and 23 others were injured and taken to hospitals. The incident heightens tensions ahead of the upcoming elections.