1 week ago
Activists Raise PoK and PoGB Abuses at UN Rights Council
Activists told the United Nations that people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan are facing serious problems.
They said people have protested about food, electricity, jobs, roads and political representation.
The activists alleged that authorities responded with force, arrests and communication blackouts.
They also reported deaths, injuries and people who have disappeared.
One speaker said peaceful disagreement should not be treated as terrorism.
The activists asked for an independent investigation into what happened.
They also asked for detained people to be released and missing people to be located.
They want internet and phone services restored and civilians protected.
These statements were made during a United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva.
The United Kashmir People’s National Party raised alleged abuses in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan at the UN Human Rights Council.
Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri cited reported deaths, injuries, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and communications blackouts since 5 June 2026.
Activists alleged that peaceful protests over food, electricity, jobs, infrastructure and political representation were met with excessive force and anti-terror laws.
Speakers urged an independent international investigation into civilian deaths, detentions, disappearances and alleged excessive force.
They called for the release of detainees, restoration of communications, protection of activists and independent monitoring mechanisms.
- Who
- The United Kashmir People’s National Party, Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, Harleen Kour and other activists raised the allegations.
- What
- They alleged human rights abuses, repression of protests, detentions, disappearances, deaths and communications restrictions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Where
- At the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva, concerning Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan.
- When
- The concerns were raised during the ongoing 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council; the alleged escalation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was said to have occurred since 5 June 2026.
- Why
- The speakers sought international attention, independent investigations, accountability, protection for civilians and restoration of civic and communications rights.
Key facts
- Forum
- 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva
- Organizations
- United Kashmir People’s National Party and African Development Association
- Reported abuses
- Deaths, injuries, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, excessive force and communications blackouts
- Protest demands
- Food, electricity, employment, better infrastructure and political representation
- Requested investigation
- An independent and impartial probe or fact-finding mission into civilian deaths, detentions and alleged excessive force
- Requested measures
- Release detainees, establish the whereabouts of missing persons, restore communications and protect activists
- Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan concerns
- Political representation, land ownership and local communities’ rights over natural resources
Quotes
Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri
UKPNP chairman and representative of the African Development Association addressing the UNHRC
“Peaceful dissent is not terrorism, and demanding rights is not a crime.”
thehansindia.com
Harleen Kour
Social activist who addressed the UNHRC about conditions and protests in PoK
“This Council cannot remain silent while fundamental human rights are violently suppressed,”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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