UN Calls for Accountability Over Harm to Peaceful Protesters in PoK

UNITED NATIONS, Aug 8: The United Nations has called for accountability if people are harmed while exercising their right to peaceful protest, amid continuing unrest in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said authorities everywhere should respect peaceful demonstrations and address any wrongdoing against protesters.

“It’s important that all authorities everywhere allow for peaceful protest, and certainly that is the case here,” Haq said on Friday in response to a question from PTI.

“If there have been people harmed for engaging in peaceful protest, there needs to be accountability for that,” he added.

The comments came after UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk raised concerns over developments in PoK and urged authorities to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into deaths linked to the unrest.

Turk had also expressed concern over the reported banning of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition associated with the protest movement, and the arrest of some of its leaders.

The region has witnessed demonstrations for several months over various political and economic issues, including opposition to the allocation of 12 refugee seats in the PoK Legislative Assembly. Protesters have alleged that these seats can be used to influence the formation of the regional government.

The unrest intensified around the elections to the so-called legislative assembly, with the first phase of polling held on July 27 and the second phase on August 2 reportedly accompanied by violent clashes.

The JAAC has claimed that more than 40 people were killed during the first phase of polling and that the overall death toll since early June has crossed 400. Pakistan’s government has rejected the figures as exaggerated.

Prime Minister’s adviser Rana Sanaullah said recently that the number of deaths during the protests was in two digits and noted that members of the security forces had also lost their lives.

The JAAC, which includes traders, transporters, students, lawyers, activists and other groups, has been banned by Pakistani authorities under anti-terrorism legislation on allegations of posing a threat to public order and security.

PoK’s legislative assembly has 53 seats. Of these, 45 are directly elected, while eight are reserved for women, technocrats and clerics. Polling for the 45 elected seats is being conducted in three phases.

The UN has stressed the importance of investigating deaths on all sides, including among demonstrators and security personnel, while urging restraint and respect for fundamental rights.

India has separately criticised the elections in PoK, describing them as a “complete farce” and arguing that the exercise does not reflect the situation on the ground.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also condemned the reported crackdown on protesters, accusing Pakistani forces of using excessive force and saying such actions expose the gap between Islamabad’s statements on human rights and conditions in the region.

India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country and describes Pakistan’s control over parts of the territory as illegal and forcible occupation.

The UN’s latest remarks underline the need for authorities to protect the right to peaceful assembly and ensure credible investigations wherever allegations of excessive force or loss of life arise.