Thousands marched in London in solidarity (Photo: JklfUk/X)
An uprising in Pakistan administered Kashmir—known as Azad Kashmir—has escalated after the Pakistani military went on the offensive against people demanding democratic rights.
The regional government last month used anti-terror laws to ban the Jammu Kashmir Joint Action Committee (JKJACC), accusing the civil society group of inciting deadly protests.
The state has this week sent heavily armed police to arrest its leadership and has murdered activists across the region in the process.
Police raided the house of Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the head of the organisation, arresting him for sedition and accusing him of inciting violence. They had previously announced a 10 million rupee (about £20,000) reward for information on his whereabouts.
Public protest is banned and the state also clamped down on communication by cutting telephone and internet networks. The whole of Azad Kashmir is effectively under lockdown.
The JKJACC is fighting for more parliamentary representation for ordinary Kashmiris. The state currently uses a law dating back to 1974 to guarantee legislative seats to refugees who fled Indian-administered Kashmir.
But many in this tiny pool of voters are now scattered across Pakistan, rather than living in Azad Kashmir itself, where main parties push them to back their preferred candidates.
The JKJACC wants the seats abolished but the Pakistani state machine is determined to keep them.
It’s no accident that the state organised its crackdown shortly before the Azad Kashmir elections, set for 27 July. It is a bid to marginalise opposition and bolster its own parties. The state is determined to bolster the political status quo and hamper any opposition.
The right wing Islamic party, the PTI, has already announced that it will boycott the polls in response to the banning of the JKJACC, the clamp down and the arrests.
But other parties, including the establishment PPP and the PML-N, will again try to use refugee votes to maintain their hold on the region.
Last weekend there were solidarity protests across the world, with tens of thousands marching in Britain to demand real democracy in Azad Kashmir.
Kashmiri’s from across Britain flocked to the demonstration, which began in Parliament Square and marched to Pakistani High Commission.
Protesters chanted of Azadi (Freedom) and Inqilab (Revolution).
Many were furious with the Pakistani state for killing 18 people in protests in Azad Kashmir. And they were angry at the “collective punishment” of the state cutting off phone service and wifi services, as well as restricting food aid.
Together they demanded that all of Kashmir be reunified and that it must be independent.
Thanks to Jawad for additional reporting
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