Civilian Death Toll in PaJK Protests Rises Above 87 as Two More Killed

RAWALAKOT: Two more young men were reportedly killed by security forces in Rawalakot and Muzaffarabad on Friday as the security siege and shutdown called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee completed 56 days across Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir.

According to journalist Haris Qadeer and Kashmiriat’s local sources, Shafaqat Hussain, a resident of Kasguma in Bhimber district, was shot after leaving a mosque near D-Chowk in Rawalakot. He had travelled with the long-march convoy from Bhimber and reportedly died at the scene. His body was later taken to his native area.

In Muzaffarabad, Moeed Khan, son of Farid Khan, was killed when security forces opened fire on protesters, while more than a dozen others were injured.

Demonstrations were reported in Lower Plate, Chehla, Gojra, Kahori, Chikar and other parts of Muzaffarabad. Protesters burned election posters and banners, while businesses closed across the city and surrounding areas after firing and tear-gas shelling.

Police said two officers were also injured during the unrest.

Following the protests, security forces launched a renewed crackdown in Muzaffarabad. Internet services were again suspended in Mirpur, while services restored two days earlier in Muzaffarabad were also disrupted.

Protest sit-ins remain in place at three entrances to Rawalakot. Addressing protesters at D-Chowk, JKJAAC core committee member Umar Nazir Kashmiri said the sit-ins would continue and that the long march had not ended, although participants were not currently advancing towards Muzaffarabad.

He condemned the firing and said the movement would continue until its demands were accepted.

Protests were also held in Khoiratta, Nakyal, Sehnsa and other parts of Kotli, where thousands reportedly gathered. A minor girl, Aamna Shakeel, was killed in firing by security forces in Kotli on Thursday, according to local reports.

Veteran Kashmiri political figure Commander Sardar Muhammad Farooq Khan, 85, also died in a Rawalpindi hospital after being wounded during firing in Rawalakot on July 28. Thousands attended his funeral in his native village of Mang.

According to figures compiled by Qadeer, JKJAAC and other local sources, at least 43 civilians have been killed since July 27, while 44 deaths had previously been documented between June 5 and July 27, taking the locally reported civilian death toll during the movement to more than 87.

The figure remains a locally compiled toll and has not been independently verified in full. International reporting earlier confirmed that more than 30 people had been reported killed during the late-July crackdown, while communications restrictions and limited media access made verification difficult.

The latest deaths come amid continuing restrictions, disrupted communications and protests over political representation, governance and the 12 Legislative Assembly seats reserved for refugees living in Pakistan.