world · 2026-07-30
PoK Protests Turn Deadly Over Election Seats
Photo: Seyyed Sajed Hassan Razavi / Wikimedia (CC BY 4.0)
Protesters in PoK allege Pakistani security forces used lethal force at a week-long D-Chowk sit-in.Sit-in was originally triggered by fuel-prices + court ruling on 12 refugee-reserved assembly seats An internet shutdown is blocking journalists and rights groups from verifying deaths and reports of civilians shot.
Why did fuel protests turn into election demands?
Protests began over rising electricity tariffs and food prices, then widened into demands to scrap 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, a JKJAAC grievance.
Why do electricity tariffs spark such anger in PoK
Electricity tariff hikes hit household budgets directly in a region with limited industry, so price rises trigger immediate public anger that other economic grievances build on quickly.
What triggered the shift to election reform?
The June PoK Supreme Court verdict protecting the 12 refugee seats gave protesters a concrete, unmovable target, shifting the movement from economic grievance to constitutional demand.
How long has this D-Chowk sit-in lasted?
Protesters have been sitting at D-Chowk in Rawalakot for several days, according to JKJAAC-linked social media accounts, with calls growing for a wider long march.
Could Pakistan's top court still scrap the seats?
PoK's Supreme Court ruled in June that the 12 reserved seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment, hardening the standoff before elections.
Why is the constitutional amendment hard to pass?
Constitutional amendments typically need supermajorities in a legislature, giving entrenched interests, in this case parties benefiting from refugee votes, an effective veto over reform.
What power do the 12 reserved seats carry?
JKJAAC argues the seats let refugees living elsewhere in Pakistan vote on PoK's local affairs, diluting the influence of residents who actually live under the policies passed.
Why does Islamabad resist scrapping these seats?
JKJAAC alleges mainstream Pakistani parties use these reserved seats to shape the PoK assembly's composition from outside, extending Islamabad's influence over local politics.
Who beyond Kashmiris is being asked to help?
JKJAAC appealed to Brazilian trade unions, workers' organisations, human rights groups, student movements and activists to press for international solidarity against the crackdown.
Why appeal specifically to Brazilian trade unions?
The appeal reflects a broader push for global labour and rights networks to amplify the cause, since local media access is restricted and mainstream coverage is limited.
How does an internet shutdown affect the protests?
Shutdowns cut protesters' ability to coordinate, document abuses, and reach outside media, letting authorities control the narrative while independent verification of casualties stalls.
Why was JAAC banned under anti-terrorism laws?
Authorities banned JAAC alleging it tried to sabotage elections and was infiltrated by armed militants, a designation the group and supporters reject as a pretext for repression.
Source: livemint.com