Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said he considered protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) enemies, just as he considered India.“I put the protesters of PojK in the same category as India and consider them as enemies,” Khawaja Asif said when asked about the protest that intensified on Monday leading to the killing of over 30 protesters.Moreover, the Amnesty International USA called the Pakistani crackdown on protestors as “disturbing” and urged Islamabad to “restore all communications access and allow media and independent observers into the area.”“The disturbing reports emerging from Rawalakot are consistent with the Pakistani authorities’ long history of unlawful violence against protesters in PoJK. We urge the Pakistani authorities to restore all communications access and allow media and independent observers into the area,” Amnesty International USA posted on X.The protest erupted as thousands of demonstrators began marching towards Muzaffarabad after negotiations between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the authorities broke down, while election officials postponed legislative assembly polls in two districts amid the unrest.The political crisis unfolded alongside the first phase of polling in 13 constituencies of the Mirpur division. However, political parties said the prolonged demonstrations had severely affected electioneering across the region.Campaign rallies, public meetings and door-to-door outreach have reportedly been disrupted by strikes and sit-ins, while candidates have expressed uncertainty over voter participation if the protests continue.Residents told local media that public interest in the elections had sharply declined, with many believing that longstanding grievances and basic rights should be addressed before any electoral exercise. According to several residents, enthusiasm for the polls is “almost non-existent,” with the protest movement taking precedence over electoral politics.The ongoing agitation follows weeks of growing tensions in the region. On June 30, the JAAC criticised Pakistani authorities after an opposition delegation was reportedly prevented from entering PoJK, calling it another example of restrictions on democratic rights and political dissent.The committee also alleged that authorities had obstructed food supplies and curtailed access to the region, claims it said reflected the government’s approach towards the people of PoJK.
