Rawalakot protests in Pakistan‑administered Kashmir turn deadly amid election unrest

Protests have engulfed the city of Rawalakot in Pakistan‑administered Kashmir, where the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) is demanding affordable flour, lower electricity prices, better health care and education. The demonstrations coincide with regional elections and have sparked clashes with security forces, leaving dozens dead and many more wounded.

A makeshift clinic run by Dr Anwar near the main protest site has treated around 50‑60 critically injured patients since late July, including Shafqat Hussain, who was shot in the chest and is now dying. The clinic provides first‑aid and wound dressing, but serious injuries require hospital care that protesters fear accessing due to the risk of arrest or further gunfire. Authorities dispute the claim that patients avoid hospitals for safety reasons and say the JAAC is armed and disrupting the polls. An agreement signed in October between the Pakistani government and local groups remains unimplemented, fueling further unrest.