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JAAC leader Shaukat Mir accused authorities of launching a violent crackdown on what he described as a peaceful movement.
The casualties include seven civilians and four police personnel as tensions escalated.
At least 11 people were killed and around 70 others injured in violent clashes between security forces and protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), marking one of the deadliest episodes of unrest in the region in recent months. The casualties include seven civilians and four police personnel as tensions escalated following the government’s decision to ban the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a prominent protest movement demanding economic and governance reforms.
In an exclusive voice message accessed by CNN-News18, JAAC leader Shaukat Mir accused authorities of launching a violent crackdown on what he described as a peaceful movement and appealed to overseas Kashmiris to raise awareness about the situation.
“We have kept alive a peaceful, non-violent and unarmed movement for basic rights,” Mir said. Alleging that security forces opened direct fire on demonstrators in Rawalakot, Mir claimed that the state had “unleashed a massacre” against activists.
“We are peaceful people. We just asked for our basic rights. We haven’t spoken anything against the Pakistani establishment nor against the state of Pakistan,” he said.
Mir also questioned the government’s decision to designate JAAC as a terrorist organisation, arguing that authorities had been holding talks with the group until recently.
“If we were terrorists, then why did they negotiate with us?” he asked.
The JAAC leader further alleged that “shoot-at-sight” orders had been issued against members of the organisation and warned of further violence. He urged overseas Kashmiris to become “our voice globally” and help build international awareness regarding the situation.
“We are ready to die. We will die with the satisfaction that we had a peaceful struggle and never created chaos,” Mir said.
The violence erupted in Rawalakot, where activists had gathered outside a hospital morgue following the death of a JAAC member who supporters allege was killed in police firing. Clashes broke out after police moved to disperse the crowd, triggering hours of confrontation.
Rawalakot Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan told Reuters that four police officers and one passerby were killed in firing allegedly carried out by protesters, while six protesters died in the subsequent response by security forces. Separately, Commissioner Sardar Waheed said three civilians were killed and 40 others wounded in the latest clashes. Police confirmed that 23 officers were injured during the violence.
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