Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is witnessing one of the gravest political and humanitarian crises in its recent history. At the centre of the turmoil is Rawalakot, area of Poonch district of PoJK that has become the epicentre of an anti-government movement demanding political rights, economic justice, and democratic reforms.
According to Sardar Omar Nazir Kashmiri, member of Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee , the Rawalkote town has been transformed into a conflict zone. Roads remain blocked, security forces have tightened restrictions, and residents allege that many people have been killed or injured in the violence. Protest leaders claim that access to hospitals has been severely disrupted after routes connecting Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad were sealed by Pakistani security forces.
Among the most vocal critics of Islamabad's response is Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri, a member of Action Committee , the organisation spearheading the protests across PoJK for the last two months.
"We are not paper figures or robots," he said in a public appeal. "Human beings are being killed. Our blood is flowing. Innocent people are dying in Rawalakot while political celebrations continue elsewhere. What kind of victory is this?" Rawalakote is bleeding. It is like strainer? Why Pakistani army and Pak Rangers are killing our people? What is there fault? Our blood is flowing in Rawalakote market. Who is ordering firing orders on innocent protesters?
He questioned why civilians were allegedly being targeted and accused the authorities of responding to legitimate public demands with force instead of dialogue.
He alleged that during the last 48 hours alone, more than 40 people lost their lives in Rawalakot, including 34 civilians and six security personnel. Pakistani media reports indicate that since June 5, nearly 80 people—including civilians and members of the security forces—have reportedly been killed in unrest across the region.
Independent verification of casualty figures remains difficult because of restrictions on media access and the limited availability of official information.
Rawalakot, located in the Poonch Division along the Line of Control with India, has remained under extensive security restrictions for weeks. Protesters claim that road closures have disrupted supplies of flour, medicines, fuel and other essential commodities to a population already struggling with economic hardship.
The protests began over demands for subsidised wheat flour and lower electricity tariffs but have steadily evolved into a wider political movement challenging Islamabad's governance of the territory.
On June 5, 2026, the PoJK government headed by Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, so- called Prime Minister of PoJK declared the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee an unlawful organisation. Since then, many of its leaders have reportedly been arrested, while others have gone underground or continue coordinating protests from sit-in camps established at D-Chowk in Rawalakot in Poonch division.
What began as an economic protest has expanded into a comprehensive political campaign.
The JAAC has broadened its charter of demands to 38 points, including improved healthcare, better schools, road infrastructure, employment opportunities, affordable electricity and constitutional reforms.
One of its most contentious demands is the abolition of 12 reserved seats in the PoJK Legislative Assembly allocated to refugees from Jammu and Kashmir who settled in different parts of Pakistan after 1947 and 1965.
The Action Committee argues that these seats have historically allowed successive governments in Islamabad to influence election outcomes in PoJK.
The PoJK Legislative Assembly consists of 53 seats, including 45 directly elected seats and eight reserved seats for women, one each seat for technocrats, ulema and overseas representatives.
Of the 45 elected seats, 33 represent constituencies within PoJK, while 12 are reserved for refugees from Jammu and Kashmir residing in Pakistan, including cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Six of these seats represent refugees from Jammu, largely Dogra- and Pahari-speaking communities, while the remaining six represent, Kashmir Valley, Kashmiri-speaking refugees.
The JAAC alleges that these refugee constituencies have enabled Islamabad to influence electoral outcomes for decades and has therefore called for their complete abolition.
The PoJK government, however, maintains that the refugee seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be removed without a constitutional amendment.
It may be recalled that votes for six Kashmiri refugees seats are about 30,000 to 38,000 votes, while votes for six Jammu refugees seats are about 4 lakh votes. Action committee alleged that these kashmiri voters are not residing in PoJK, but mostly settled outside in other areas of Pak and government manupulated with these seats for formation of PoJK government.
Assembly elections began on July 27 and are being conducted in three phases. Voting in Mirpur Division has already taken place. Muzaffarabad Division, along with the 12 refugee constituencies, is scheduled to vote on August 2, while Poonch Division, where tensions remain the highest, will vote on August 10.
The banned JAAC has urged supporters to boycott the elections, arguing that its leadership has been excluded from the political process and that the electoral framework lacks credibility.
Rawalakot-based social media influencer, Aqeel Bhai says the movement is fundamentally about basic human rights rather than separatist politics."We are asking for schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructure, development and the right to vote," he said. "Yet the government labels this movement as anti-Pakistan. We simply want to live with dignity."
He appealed to people in Gilgit-Baltistan and across Jammu and Kashmir to express solidarity with the protesters. The political atmosphere has been further inflamed by remarks attributed to Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who reportedly described the protesters in Rawalakot as "enemies" of Pakistan like India and ruled out any negotiations with them.
He has also reportedly questioned whether the people of Rawalakot peoole should even be regarded as Kashmiris—a statement that has drawn sharp criticism from activists, who view it as deepening divisions instead of encouraging reconciliation.
The unrest unfolding in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir reflects far more than economic discontent. It has evolved into a broader confrontation over political representation, constitutional rights and the relationship between Islamabad and the territory it administers.
As elections proceed under heavy security and with a major protest movement calling for a boycott, the crisis presents Pakistan with a critical test. Whether the authorities choose dialogue or continue relying primarily on security measures will determine not only the immediate future of Rawalakot but also the long-term political stability of PoJK.