Members of the Kashmiri diaspora and human rights activists staged protests outside the Pakistan Consulate in Bradford, United Kingdom, condemning the reported killing of protesters and mourners during a security crackdown in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The demonstrations come amid growing international concern over the escalating violence in the region.
Protesters accused Pakistani security forces of using excessive force against civilians participating in demonstrations in PoK, particularly in Rawalakot, where clashes and firing reportedly left at least 11 people dead and scores injured. Demonstrators carried placards, chanted slogans, and called for an independent international investigation into the alleged human rights violations.
The unrest in PoK intensified following a crackdown on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a group that had been organizing protests over issues including subsidized flour, electricity prices and political representation. Pakistani authorities banned the organization, citing concerns over public order and security, a move that further fuelled tensions across the region.
POK activists involved in the movement alleged that security crackdowns over the past two days had resulted in more than 100 deaths and numerous injuries, reported ANI.
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British MPs express concernA British parliamentary group of more than 30 MPs has formally raised concerns over reports of communication disruptions, arrests, and increasing tensions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. In a letter sent to the UK Foreign Office, Bradford East MP Imran Hussain, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir, cited reports of a communications blackout as part of a broader lockdown in the region. The letter urged the British government to "engage proactively and use all appropriate diplomatic channels to encourage de-escalation and a peaceful resolution" of the situation. |
