'Destroy Anyone Who Raises Their Head': JUIF Chief Targets Pakistan Government Over Unrest In PoK

Published 16 June 2026 · politics

'Destroy Anyone Who Raises Their Head': JUIF Chief Targets Pakistan Government Over Unrest In PoK Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 11:02

'Destroy Anyone Who Raises Their Head': JUIF Chief Targets Pakistan Government Over Unrest In PoK Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 11:02 IST Rehman, a member of the Assembly of Pakistan, targeted the country's government and military over the growing rebellion and unrest in PoK while addressing the House The immediate trigger for the latest unrest was a dispute over 12 seats in the region’s legislative assembly that are reserved for refugees from Jammu and Kashmir who live in Pakistan. (File image: Reuters) With Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in the throes of a massive unrest over economic justice and political representation, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Chief Fazlur Rehman trained guns at the government, stressing dialogue and the identification of what he described as “non-negotiable" Kashmiri demands. Rehman, a member of the Assembly of Pakistan, targeted the country’s government and military over the growing rebellion and unrest in PoK while addressing the House, sources told CNN-News18.

“Where does Pakistan stand"? The JUIF Chief asked as he urged the government to engage in dialogue and identify the “non-negotiable" demands of civilians in the region. ‘Destroy Anyone Who Raises Their Head’ Accusing the Pakistan’s government and military of suppressing civilian demands in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, Rehman said the administration “destroys anyone who raises their head". “Honor of Kashmiri women has been reduced to mere politics", he said. Expressing concern over surging attacks on military cantonments and police stations in the affected region, Rehman warned the incidents were “weakening the country’s defenses", sources told CNN-News18. From Sindh’s Katcha dacoits to occupied police stations, Fazlur Rehman flagged “grave security crises". In the riverine regions spanning the borders of Punjab and Sindh, heavily armed dacoits — infamous as the Katcha dacoits — have historically occupied or forced the abandonment of vulnerable police checkpoints and outposts.

On Citizen Self-Defence “We aren’t even allowed to keep a pistol", Fazlur Rehman said, questioning the Pakistan government on citizen self-defence. He argued that forcing local citizens into combat will spark “generational enmities", urging the government to announce military training for every Pakistani if the “State cannot fight". Fazlur Rehman’s speech was censored in Pakistan’s Parliament over criticism on Pakistan military’s policy In PoK and in the country. Unrest in PoK followed an order by the Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir that ruled that 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan were constitutionally protected and could not be abolished without a constitutional amendment. Later, the protests escalated with demands for governance, political rights and economic issues as civilians turned rebellious against Pakistan’s administration and military establishment. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location: Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: June 16, 2026, 11:02 IST News world 'Destroy Anyone Who Raises Their Head': JUIF Chief Targets Pakistan Government Over Unrest In PoK Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s.