URGENT APPEAL CONCERNING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND SUPPRESSION OF CIVIL LIBERTIES IN PAKISTAN-ADMINISTERED KASHMIR (AZAD JAMMU & KASHMIR)
TO:
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Independent Human Rights Organisations and Global Civil Society
SUBJECT: Call for Immediate International Intervention Regarding Heavy-Handed Suppression, Arbitrary Detention, and Use of Force Against Civilians in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK)
DATE: July 28, 2026
I. Statement of Urgency
We, the undersigned civil society members, human rights defenders, and concerned citizens, submit this urgent appeal to bring international attention to the deteriorating human rights situation across Pakistan-administered Kashmir—specifically within the key urban and regional hubs of Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Mirpur, and Kotli.
Over recent months, peaceful public demonstrations, civil strikes, and social movements advocating for basic economic rights, fundamental freedoms, and administrative transparency have been met with state-sponsored suppression, disproportionate use of physical force, mass arrests, and severe restrictions on basic liberties.
II. Geographic Scope & Key Affected Areas
Muzaffarabad (Capital Region): Heavy police and paramilitary deployments, night raids on civic leaders, tear gas shelling in residential neighborhoods, and physical blockades restricting freedom of movement.
Rawalakot (Poonch Division): Intense crackdowns on peaceful assemblies, use of live ammunition and baton charges leading to civilian casualties and injuries, alongside widespread arrests of local activists.
Mirpur & Surrounding Districts: Arbitrary detentions, harassment of local traders and student representatives, and strict curbs on public gatherings.
Kotli: Disruption of communication infrastructure, intimidation of civil society advocates, and violent dispersals of public gatherings.
III. Key Human Rights Concerns & Violations
Disproportionate & Excessive Use of Force: Security and paramilitary forces have repeatedly used live ammunition, rubber bullets, tear gas, and violent baton charges against non-violent demonstrators, resulting in preventable deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Arbitrary Arrests & Detentions: Dozens of peaceful organizers, lawyers, traders, and youth activists have been detained under harsh anti-terrorism and preventive detention laws to suppress public dissent.
Suppression of Free Expression & Assembly: Blanket bans on peaceful assembly, heavy censorship on local media coverage, and periodic internet shutdowns deprive local populations of their fundamental rights to express grievances and share information.
Intimidation of Journalists and Civil Society: Independent reporters and community organizers face ongoing surveillance, harassment, and legal threats for documenting human rights abuses.
IV. Demands & Requests for Action
We urgently request that international human rights bodies, regional governments, and international agencies take immediate steps to ensure accountability and protect civilian lives:
Independent International Investigation: Dispatch an independent fact-finding mission from the UN OHCHR or international human rights groups to evaluate the situation on the ground across Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Mirpur, and Kotli.
Immediate Release of Political Detainees: Demand the prompt and unconditional release of all civic leaders, peaceful protesters, and activists detained under arbitrary or politically motivated charges.
Cessation of Disproportionate Force: Urge Pakistani federal and regional security authorities to immediately halt the use of lethal and excessive force against peaceful assemblies, adhering strictly to international standards on policing and basic human rights.
Restoration of Digital Communications & Press Freedom: Ensure unhindered access to internet services, lift media bans, and protect local journalists from harassment and extrajudicial intimidation.
Accountability for Perpetrators: Call for transparent judicial investigations into all incidents of excessive force, injuries, and deaths, ensuring those responsible are brought to justice under the law.
V. Conclusion
The people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir deserve basic human dignity, safety, and the right to express their grievances without fear of violence or illegal detention. Silence from the global community enables further impunity. We urge international human rights custodians to act swiftly before further lives are lost.
.
Signed, Social Media Activist Malaika gul and
Concerned Citizens, Advocates for Human Rights, and Civil Society Organizations
Location: Azad Jammu & Kashmir (Pakistan-administered Kashmir)
