New Delhi: India has slammed Pakistan for excesses committed against civilians in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), calling for accountability for its “horrific” human rights violations.
“We have seen reports on protests in several areas of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the weekly briefing on Friday.
The unrest is a “natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive” approach towards the region, he further stated.
“We believe that it is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and its systemic plundering of resources from these territories, which remain under its forcible and illegal occupation. Pakistan must be held accountable for its horrific human rights violations,” Jaiswal added.
Protests have erupted across multiple districts of PoJK. These are basically civilian demonstrations against economic hardship, lack of basic services, and exploitation by the Pakistani authorities. Reports from the region also suggest a heavy-handed response by security forces, leading to casualties and widespread condemnation from local groups.
Thousands of people also turned up on Friday for the funeral of those killed during days of violent protests in Muzaffarabad in PoJK. Local leaders accused Pakistani security agencies of killing people in cold blood. Three young people were killed in the firing.
The protests, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), centre around a 38-point charter of demands, including political reforms, subsidised wheat flour, reduced electricity tariffs, free education and health facilities, and the end of perks for government officials.
Shops, markets and transport services have been shut down, bringing life to a standstill.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) leader Syeda Zahra, in a post on X on Friday, said, “The tsunami of Kashmir will hit Muzaffarabad today”.
Zahra shared a video on X where it was mentioned that a report was prepared on the large-scale violence inflicted upon the people in PoJK, despite which people did not retreat, and it further mentioned that after Friday prayers, it would be difficult to control the people. Zahra shared the clip, which mentioned the report stating that hatred among people in PoJK towards the central government in Islamabad is increasing.
JKJAAC has demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for killing “unarmed protesters” in Muzaffarabad, Dhirkot and other areas of PoJK.