London, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A UK-registered international human rights organisation has urged British parliamentarians to press Pakistani authorities over alleged human rights abuses in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), arguing that the worsening situation cannot be treated merely as a law-and-order issue.
The Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO), which documents and monitors human rights conditions, said the reported abuses were closely linked to the territory’s unresolved political status, the lack of meaningful self-governance and the Kashmiri people’s longstanding demand for self-determination.
Addressing British parliamentarians during an online parliamentary briefing on Tuesday, JKHRO Director Yasir Shafaat said protests that initially focused on the affordability of flour and electricity had evolved into a broader struggle over political rights, identity and the right of Kashmiris to determine their own future.
The organisation said the situation deteriorated sharply after Pakistani authorities proscribed the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) under anti-terrorism legislation on June 5, 2026. The move was followed by violent confrontations between protesters and security forces.
According to JKHRO’s Human Rights Situation Report, 90 people died in PoK between June 5 and October 4 amid escalating unrest.
The organisation raised concerns over alleged unlawful killings, arrests, disputed detentions, missing persons, restrictions on communications, disruptions to medical services and interference with children’s education.
It also cited official records indicating that the registration of 13 private schools in the territory had been withdrawn, raising further concerns about the impact of the crisis on education.
JKHRO highlighted the reported use of measures under the Fourth Schedule of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act against individuals associated with the movement, saying the implications for civil liberties and human rights required scrutiny.
The organisation further claimed that British citizens had reportedly been affected by security-related measures, including alleged targeting linked to human rights work. It called for the identities of those concerned, their legal status and the circumstances of their cases to be independently established.
Shafaat said the crisis demonstrated the connection between restrictions on political participation and the deterioration of fundamental rights.
“When people are denied a meaningful voice in decisions about their land, resources and political future, economic grievances can develop into wider political unrest. When those demands are met primarily through coercive security measures rather than dialogue, the consequences are borne by ordinary civilians,” he said.
JKHRO called on British parliamentarians and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to press Pakistani authorities for independent investigations into reported deaths and injuries, clarification of detention and missing-person cases, and protection for British nationals.
The organisation also urged action to restore essential civilian services and introduce safeguards for human rights defenders operating in the region.
It maintained that addressing the situation required more than security measures, calling for accountability, meaningful political engagement and protection of the fundamental rights of people living in PoK.
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