Protests in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir: 1 dead, several injured; mobile, internet services suspended

Clashes broke out on Monday in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, leaving one dead and more than a dozen injured, including a policeman, as the city observed a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike amid a communications blackout. The protest was called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) over its unfulfilled charter of demands. Rival groups staged simultaneous demonstrations, each accusing the other of provoking violence during what was intended as a peaceful protest.

Mobile and internet services have been suspended in POK since Sunday noon, with sources indicating that the restrictions could remain in place until Wednesday.

The violence occurred near Neelum Bridge after midday when a ‘peace rally’ led by Muslim Conference leader Raja Saqib Majeed clashed with JKJAAC demonstrators. The strike had been announced last week after negotiations between JKJAAC and the government failed over the abolition of elite privileges and reserved seats for Pakistan-based refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Eyewitness accounts and aftermath

Witnesses stated that participants in the peace rally opened fire on JKJAAC demonstrators without provocation. Ghulam Mustafa, a bystander, reported that one bullet struck Mohammad Sudheer, 30, a crockery shop owner on Tahli Mandi Road. “By the time we reached CMH, he had lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding,” he said. Hospital officials confirmed Sudheer died during treatment, according to Dawn.

Reportedly, Mohammad Basharat, a 50-year-old shopkeeper in Shokat Lines, was injured by shrapnel. He claimed demonstrators had tried to make way for Majeed’s convoy but were attacked by members of the convoy. Another eyewitness said the peace rally was protected by police and paramilitary forces, who fired tear gas and live rounds at demonstrators. Injured people at the hospital showed spent bullet casings collected from the scene.

Raja Safeer, a 20-year-old shopkeeper and patient in the emergency ward, questioned why the peace march was permitted on the day JKJAAC had called for a lockdown. Communications restrictions prevented officials and Majeed from providing comment. Some local reports claimed JKJAAC protesters fired on the peace rally, but this could not be independently confirmed.

Later in the evening, hundreds gathered at Lal Chowk in Muzaffarabad where JKJAAC leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, addressed the crowd. Mir accused certain elements of attempting to create unrest similar to the events of May 9 in POK and urged the army chief to monitor the situation. He asked the crowd to reconvene at the same location at 11am on Tuesday to decide further action.

All businesses remained closed and streets were deserted across POK. Similar demonstrations were reported in Rawalakot and Sudhnoti, while a rally in Bhimber was led by Ehsanul Haq, brother of PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, and associated with PTI.