British Kashmiris staged protests outside Pakistani diplomatic missions in Birmingham and Bradford, condemning the reported killings of demonstrators in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)….report Asian Lite News Desk
British Kashmiris staged protests outside Pakistan’s consulates in Birmingham and Bradford on Tuesday, condemning the reported killings of demonstrators in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and calling for an immediate end to the violence.
Outside the Pakistan Consulate in Birmingham, protesters placed their footwear in front of the mission as a symbolic gesture while chanting slogans against the Pakistan Army. They demanded an end to what they described as the use of force against civilians in PoJK amid reports of multiple deaths in Rawalakot.
The demonstrators said the protest was intended to highlight what they described as continuing human rights violations and oppression in the region.
A similar protest was held outside the Pakistan Consulate in Bradford, where Kashmiri activists raised concerns over the reported deaths of protesters during demonstrations in PoJK.
The protesters accused Pakistani security forces of opening fire on civilians in the Rawalakot and Mirpur areas over the past two days, resulting in multiple casualties. The reported casualty figures have not been independently verified.
According to reports, several people were killed after security forces fired on demonstrators protesting for what organisers described as their basic rights. The protests were organised against alleged human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The unrest follows a 52-day protest movement led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has demanded the release of detained activists, withdrawal of cases against protesters and acceptance of a wider set of political and public demands.
Tensions escalated after talks between the JAAC and Pakistani authorities reportedly failed to produce an agreement on Monday.
The JAAC had given authorities until 1 p.m. on July 27 to formally accept its demands, warning that thousands of supporters would march from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad if no agreement was reached.
After negotiations broke down, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Rawalakot and began marching towards Muzaffarabad. Protest organisers alleged that Pakistani security forces subsequently opened fire on the crowd.
Eyewitnesses associated with the movement claimed that at least 14 people were killed and nearly two dozen injured during Monday evening’s violence. These figures have not been independently verified.
The JAAC later claimed that the number of people killed between June 5 and July 28 had risen to 67, referring to the deceased as “martyrs” and pledging to continue its campaign. The reported death toll has not been independently confirmed.
Protest leaders have also alleged that the electoral process in PoJK has been manipulated to influence political outcomes, undermining democratic institutions. They further accused the authorities of suppressing dissent through arrests, intimidation and a heavy security presence.
Meanwhile, unrest has reportedly spread beyond Rawalakot to Mirpur, with social media posts alleging that Pakistani security forces again opened fire on civilians during fresh demonstrations.
Reports circulating on social media claimed that several protesters were killed in the latest incident, although those claims could not be independently verified. Pakistani authorities had not immediately responded to the allegations at the time of reporting.
