UN Report Fuels Fresh Calls For Probe Into PoK Bloodshed Ahead Of Elections | Exclusive

Published 20 July 2026 · politics

UN Report Fuels Fresh Calls For Probe Into PoK Bloodshed Ahead Of Elections | Exclusive Reported By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 15:18 IST The

UN Report Fuels Fresh Calls For Probe Into PoK Bloodshed Ahead Of Elections | Exclusive Reported By, Last Updated: July 20, 2026, 15:18 IST The June 5 violence marked a significant escalation in unrest, with activists alleging that security personnel opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in civilian casualties Rapid Read Supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) gather during a weeks-long protest in Neelum Valley, in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. (File pic: AFP) A fresh wave of protests has erupted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with political and civil society leaders demanding an impartial international investigation into the June 5 civilian killings, citing a recent United Nations human rights report as evidence that accountability must precede the region’s upcoming elections. At a sit-in protest in Rawalakot, leaders of the Awami Action Committee (AAC) accused Pakistan’s security forces of using excessive force against civilians during demonstrations and called for those responsible to be identified and prosecuted. Addressing the gathering, AAC leader Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri said the bloodshed of June 5 could not be ignored and urged the international community to take note of the situation in the region.

“We will continue to raise our voice until justice is delivered. Those responsible for the killings must be exposed and held accountable," he said, according to statements released by the organisation. The AAC also demanded that recommendations made in the recent UN human rights report on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir be implemented, arguing that an impartial investigation into the civilian deaths was essential before any electoral process could be considered credible. Protesters alleged that curfew-like restrictions and a heavy security presence have remained in place across parts of PoK since June 5, disrupting normal life and restricting movement. They claimed that residents continue to face intimidation and that the region remains under what they described as a “siege". The latest demonstrations add to months of unrest in PoK, where residents have repeatedly protested against rising prices, governance issues and the actions of Pakistani authorities. The June 5 violence marked a significant escalation, with activists alleging that security personnel opened fire on demonstrators, resulting in civilian casualties.

The renewed calls for accountability come as discussions around elections in PoK gather pace. Protest leaders argued that any democratic exercise would lack legitimacy unless allegations of human rights violations are independently investigated and those responsible are brought to justice. Pakistan has previously rejected allegations of human rights abuses in the region, while India has consistently maintained that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is an integral part of India and has raised concerns over the treatment of civilians in the territory. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Key Questions Answered What are the key demands of protesters in PoK? Protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are demanding an impartial international investigation into the June 5 civilian killings, accountability for those responsible, and the release of detained demonstrators. How might the UN report impact upcoming PoK elections? A UN human rights report is fueling demands for an investigation into civilian killings in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) before the upcoming elections.