Rawalakot has emerged as the focal point of a growing wave of protests across Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) following a crackdown on activists associated with the Jammu & Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (J&KJAAC).
According to reports from local activists and members of the movement, tensions escalated after authorities declared the J&KJAAC a proscribed organization and launched a series of security measures ahead of the committee’s planned Long March scheduled for June 9. Protest leaders allege that internet services across PoK were suspended beginning on the night of June 5, significantly restricting communications throughout the region.
The unrest intensified following reports that two J&KJAAC members, identified as Shahzaib Habib and Amjid Kashmiri, were killed during confrontations linked to the ongoing protests. Their deaths have become a rallying point for demonstrators, who accuse authorities of using excessive force against peaceful activists.
In Rawalakot, thousands reportedly gathered to attend the funeral of Shahzaib Habib. The event transformed into a major political demonstration, with J&KJAAC core committee members addressing the crowd and issuing an ultimatum to law enforcement authorities regarding the deaths of the two activists. Protest leaders vowed to continue their movement and demanded accountability for the killings.
The Public Action Committee subsequently announced a sit-in outside the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalakot, accompanied by a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike. Organizers stated that the broader Long March would proceed according to schedule despite mounting security restrictions.
Reports from across PoK indicate that the protests have spread beyond Rawalakot. Demonstrations and shutdowns have reportedly taken place in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Tata Pani, and Plandari. In Plandari, activists led by local organizers allegedly blocked major entry points as part of the expanding protest campaign.
Activists claim that the Pakistani authorities have deployed thousands of additional security personnel, including Rangers, Frontier Corps units, and police forces from other provinces, to sensitive locations throughout PoK in anticipation of further unrest. Protesters argue that these measures reflect growing concern within the administration over the scale of public mobilization.
The developments have also attracted attention among the Kashmiri diaspora. Demonstrations expressing solidarity with the people of Kashmir have been reported in the United Kingdom, while human rights concerns related to the situation in PoK have reportedly been raised in international forums, including in the United States and Australia.
The UK chapter of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has reportedly condemned the decision to outlaw the J&KJAAC and called upon overseas Kashmiris to support what it described as the democratic and fundamental rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The organization warned that any further use of force against peaceful protesters could prompt demonstrations outside Pakistani diplomatic missions in Britain and Europe.
As Rawalakot remains at the centre of the unfolding crisis, the coming days are expected to be critical. With the Long March approaching and public anger continuing to grow, the situation in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir appears poised to remain a major flashpoint, drawing increasing regional and international attention.
#European Times
