Islamabad, August 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pakistan continues to enjoy trade benefits under the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) despite allegations of a violent crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to a report published by Stringer Asia.
The report claims that Pakistani security forces responded to recent demonstrations in PoK with the use of force, communication blackouts, mass arrests and restrictions on media access, even as the European Union renewed Pakistan’s eligibility under a trade framework intended to promote human rights, democratic governance and the rule of law.
Citing a member of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), the report alleges that more than 50 people were killed and hundreds injured after security personnel opened fire on demonstrators demanding political rights and electoral reforms. The report notes that the exact number of casualties remains difficult to verify due to internet and mobile service suspensions, restricted access for journalists and allegations that bodies were removed from hospitals.
According to the report, the EU’s GSP+ programme grants tariff-free access to European markets in exchange for adherence to international conventions covering human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and good governance. Although the revised GSP+ framework introduced in 2026 was expected to strengthen monitoring, the report argues that Pakistan’s continued participation raises questions about the implementation of those standards.
The report further alleges that while Pakistan has frequently projected itself as a defender of Kashmiri rights internationally, authorities have responded to demands for representative governance, economic rights and electoral reforms in PoK with arrests, anti-terror laws and restrictions on information.
In a post on social media platform X, JAAC member Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri claimed that more than 50 people had been killed and hundreds injured during the recent unrest. The organisation also stated that protests continued across the Muzaffarabad region, with demonstrators demanding protection of fundamental rights and implementation of commitments made by local authorities.
The report also draws parallels with the situation in Balochistan, where it alleges enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detentions have become persistent concerns. It notes that June 8 is observed as Baloch Missing Persons Day to highlight cases of enforced disappearances and alleged human rights violations in the province.
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