Geneva, September 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Kashmiri socio-political activist Tasleema Akhtar has raised concerns over the human rights situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) at the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), calling for restoration of civic space and communication services and independent investigations into reported civilian deaths.
Speaking during the UNHRC session, Akhtar said protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and other civil society groups over governance and economic issues had been followed by arrests, detention of key leaders, an internet shutdown and violent clashes. Her remarks were made during the Council’s general debate. The UN’s official transcript lists Tasleema Akhter among the speakers at the 63rd session.
Akhtar said the developments reflected continuing political instability and public discontent in PoJK. She alleged that the authorities’ response had included the arrest of hundreds of activists and supporters and restrictions on communication.
“There is a lack of civic space in POJK besides cases of large-scale reprisals, which require to be addressed,” Akhtar said, while calling for an end to what she described as the killing of innocent civilians by Pakistani security forces and for immediate protective measures.
She urged the UNHRC to intervene for restoration of civic space and communication in the region and called for independent inquiries into each reported killing, with free and fair access to information relating to the cases.
The unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has continued for months. Recent reporting has documented a prolonged internet shutdown, protests by the JAAC over political and economic grievances and deadly clashes between protesters and security forces. The precise death toll remains disputed, with different groups and authorities providing differing accounts.
The JAAC’s demands have included economic concessions, investigations into alleged corruption, improved public services and infrastructure, and changes to the region’s political representation. Authorities have also banned the organisation under anti-terrorism legislation, according to Amnesty International and other reports.
Akhtar also contrasted developments in PoJK with Jammu and Kashmir in India, claiming that the latter had made progress through skill development, employment generation, local business initiatives, smart-city projects and rural infrastructure.
Her comments came amid continuing international scrutiny of the situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where restrictions on communications have complicated independent verification of reports concerning deaths, arrests and alleged abuses.
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