Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir protests intensify after 22 deaths, UN urges investigation

During a United Nations Human Rights Council session, officials presented allegations that a crackdown in Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir (PoK) resulted in 22 deaths and the detention of about 576 people. Human‑rights groups said the force was used against peaceful demonstrators demanding civil liberties, prompting calls for an independent investigation and accountability.

The protests have expanded far beyond initial grievances over electricity tariffs and wheat prices. Organisers reported over 70,000 participants, including schoolchildren, women and entire families, occupying Rawalakot’s Eidgah Ground and other towns. The movement is now described as a legitimacy crisis, with demands aimed at the Pakistani administration itself. Authorities responded by banning the Joint Awami Action Committee, filing sedition charges, imposing an internet blackout and restricting food convoys. The killing of JAAC member Shahzaib Habib on June 5, 2026 further fueled the unrest.