United Nations, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has backed a call by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, for prompt and impartial investigations into deaths during recent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the UN said on Friday.
Guterres’ Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said the UN chief supports the work of the High Commissioner and expects Turk’s appeal for investigations to be heeded.
“The Secretary-General supports the work of his High Commissioner, and we certainly hope that the pleas made by Volker Turk will be listened to,” Haq said at a briefing.
He stressed that authorities must allow peaceful demonstrations and ensure accountability if people were harmed while exercising their right to protest.
“It’s important that all authorities everywhere allow for peaceful protest, and certainly that is the case here,” Haq said. “If there have been people harmed for engaging in peaceful protest, there needs to be accountability for that.”
Turk had called for “prompt, thorough and impartial investigations” into all deaths reported during the unrest, including those among protesters and security personnel.
The protests were led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition involving traders, transporters, students, lawyers, activists and others. The movement has been demonstrating against the reservation of seats for people from outside the region in elections to the local legislature.
About 50 protesters have reportedly been killed during the recent unrest.
The UN Human Rights Office said JAAC had been banned under anti-terrorism laws over allegations that it threatened public order and security. Several of its leaders were subsequently arrested, it said.
The UN office expressed concern that criminalising a civil society organisation and imposing restrictions on gatherings could infringe on rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
Turk also called for detained JAAC leaders to be given access to legal representation and their families, while stressing that their rights to due process and a fair trial must be fully protected, according to his spokesperson Jeremy Laurence.
The UN position comes amid continued scrutiny of the handling of protests and allegations of excessive force in PoK.
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