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Tasleema Akhtar Calls for UN Action on Human Rights in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
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UN Intervention Highlights Crackdown in PoJK
During the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva (Sept 7-Oct 7 2026), Kashmiri activist Tasleema Akhtar addressed the council’s General Assembly. She alleged that Pakistani security forces fired on peaceful demonstrators in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), arrested hundreds of activists, shut down internet and mobile services, and carried out “large-scale reprisals” that resulted in civilian deaths. Akhtar demanded an independent probe of each killing, free access to information, and immediate protective measures for civilians.
Background & Context
Protests in PoJK have been organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and other civil-society groups. The movement intensified after June 5 2026, when activists reported a surge in arrests, violent clashes, and communication blackouts. Akhtar described the protests as “peaceful” and framed the Pakistani response as a systematic effort to suppress dissent.
Data & Statistics
- Akhtar claimed the Indian government spends nine times more on education in Jammu and Kashmir (JKUT) than in PoJK, citing differences in school infrastructure such as lack of roofs, clean water and toilets in PoJK schools.
- Activist reports mention “dozens” of deaths in recent clashes, while political activist Jamil Maqsood alleges more than one hundred civilians have been killed, including a female lawyer, two doctors and a PhD scholar.
Official Statements & Responses
Akhtar’s intervention emphasized three core demands:
1. Independent investigations into every reported killing, with unrestricted access for investigators.
2. Restoration of civic space and communications, calling for UNHRC-mandated protective measures.
3. Highlighting development disparities, noting that JKUT benefits from infrastructure projects and universal health-insurance schemes, whereas PoJK suffers from “utter disregard” for basic amenities.
Criticism & Opposition
At the same council session, Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, chairman of the United Kashmir People’s National Party, echoed concerns about repression in PoJK. He argued that peaceful dissent should not be equated with terrorism and called for independent monitoring of the region.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Casualty figures differ: activist accounts mention “dozens” of deaths, whereas Maqsood cites “more than one hundred” civilian fatalities. No independent verification has been presented.
- Infrastructure assessments rely on activist testimony; there is no cited government or third-party audit confirming the nine-fold education spending gap.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is a lack of civic space in PoJK besides cases of large-scale reprisals, which require to be addressed,” — Tasleema Akhtar
- “Peaceful dissent is not terrorism, and demanding rights is not a crime,” — Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri
- “The ongoing killing of innocent civilians by Pakistani security forces in PoJK needs to be stopped at once with immediate protective measures,” — Tasleema Akhtar
What’s Next
The UN Human Rights Council will continue to consider Item 4 on the agenda, covering the situation in PoJK, during the remainder of its session ending Oct 7 2026. Activists hope the council will adopt resolutions calling for independent monitoring, restoration of communications, and protection of civilians.