Islamabad, July 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Amnesty International has expressed concern over what it described as continuing human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), urging Pakistani authorities to end the crackdown on dissent, restore internet services and release those allegedly detained for peacefully exercising their rights.
In a statement posted on X, the international human rights organisation said residents of PoK have faced internet blackouts, arbitrary arrests and restrictions on movement for the past 50 days, raising serious concerns over the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
With regional elections scheduled for July 27, Amnesty called on the authorities to ensure that people can exercise their democratic rights freely and without fear. It also urged an investigation into allegations of unlawful use of force against protesters and demanded the lifting of the ban on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group active in the region.
The JAAC said a voluntary shutdown and wheel-jam protest continued across PoK despite adverse weather conditions. In statements shared on social media, the group accused the Pakistani authorities of suppressing peaceful protests and asserted that its movement remained united despite what it described as attempts to weaken it.
The concerns echoed those raised last week by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which voiced alarm over restrictions on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in PoK.
OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence said the criminalisation of a civil society organisation and restrictions on public gatherings were a matter of concern, adding that detained JAAC leaders should have access to legal representation, their families, and due process guarantees.
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