Clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan-administered Kashmir have left at least 15 people dead and around 50 injured as thousands marched toward Muzaffarabad to oppose the reservation of 12 legislative seats for refugees. The JAAC organised the protests but was banned on 5 June under anti-terrorism laws; authorities accused the group of sedition. Officials reported a large convoy near Rawalkot and helicopters conducting surveillance, while Amnesty International criticised an internet shutdown, mass arrests and excessive force. The Supreme Court has said the reserved seats are constitutionally protected, intensifying tensions ahead of July's election.
At Least 15 Killed as Thousands March in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Over Reserved Seats
An uneasy silence has blanketed major districts in Pakistan-administered Kashmir [AFP via Getty Images]
At least 15 people — reportedly 11 civilians and four security personnel — have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces across Pakistan-administered Kashmir, officials and local media say. The violence erupted as thousands marched toward the regional capital, Muzaffarabad, to protest the reservation of 12 legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees.
The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition of activist groups, organised the demonstrations and called for a mass march and a general strike. Authorities banned the JAAC on 5 June under anti-terrorism laws, accusing the group of sedition and saying its actions were prejudicial to state security. Despite the ban, large convoys continued to mobilise.
Local officials reported a convoy of demonstrators officially estimated at more than 10,000 people positioned roughly four kilometres outside Rawalkot. Poonch district commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan told BBC Urdu that security forces were patrolling to maintain order, residents had been advised to stay indoors and the protest column would not be permitted to pass through Rawalkot en route to Muzaffarabad. Helicopters were reported conducting surveillance over both Muzaffarabad and Rawalkot.
Reporters say clashes first escalated in Rawalakot earlier in the week. Officials also reported three further deaths in the city of Kotli. At least 50 people have been injured and authorities cautioned the death toll may rise as investigations continue and more information becomes available.
Amnesty International condemned what it described as a 'violent and sweeping crackdown' on protesters, citing an internet shutdown, mass arbitrary arrests and the deadly use of force. The rights group warned this reflected an alarming deterioration of human rights in the region.
The disputed measure reserves 12 seats in the regional assembly for Kashmiri refugees who do not reside in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Critics and the JAAC argue the policy effectively bars local residents from contesting those seats and have demanded the reserved seats be abolished so that all seats are held by people who actually live in the territory.
However, a detailed advisory opinion from the Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir concluded the reserved seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be changed by administrative measures or political pressure. The comment has heightened tensions ahead of the upcoming July legislative elections.
Local Impact and Wider Context
Muzaffarabad fell mostly silent amid the unrest: streets were reported empty, many shops closed and police on patrol. It was unclear in every case whether businesses were shuttered for safety reasons, in solidarity with the strike, or both. One trader told BBC Urdu they had closed voluntarily and planned to remain shut until demands were addressed or the strike ended.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir is a semi-autonomous region with its own government. The wider Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan has spanned more than seven decades, with both countries claiming the territory in full and each controlling parts of the region.
Authorities, rights groups and local leaders alike warn that tensions and the risk of further violence remain high as political and legal disagreements over representation and the upcoming election continue to play out.
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