‘No Surrender, Only Resistance’: JAAC Leader Calls For Complete PoK Shutdown On July 5

Last Updated:July 04, 2026, 15:30 IST

JAAC leader Khawaja Mehran urged Kashmiris across PoK and the overseas diaspora to mobilise on July 5, accusing Pakistan of bloodshed, arrests and resource exploitation.

In a major escalation of the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) core member Khawaja Mehran has called for a complete shutdown across the region on July 5, urging people to close roads, markets, entry points and normal activities in protest against what he described as state oppression and bloodshed.

In a strongly worded appeal, Mehran asked residents across towns and villages of PoK to step out and join the protest, while also urging the overseas Kashmiri diaspora to mobilise and raise its voice against the Pakistani establishment.

“No law, no book and no constitution in the world allows a Brigadier to stand up and say that bodies will fall here and blood will be spilled here," Mehran said, accusing the Pakistan military establishment of overreach.

He strongly condemned the killings and violence in the region, saying there was “no legal or moral justification" for the bloodshed. “Absolutely not. Therefore, we practically need to stand up," he said.

Mehran also attacked the PoK administration and questioned the legitimacy of any talks being held with the current leadership. Accusing the authorities of staging negotiations while siding with the military establishment, he said those in power had no moral standing to negotiate after the recent violence.

“After all these bodies, all this blood, and this burning desire for revenge, it is impossible that we just turn back," Mehran said.

The JAAC leader demanded the resignation of those responsible, saying they must step down publicly. He also accused the Pakistani establishment of exploiting Kashmir’s resources while using force against its people.

“Tell the world that inside the land of my State of Jammu and Kashmir, billions of dollars worth of resources are being extracted, and today, those who are feeding off our resources have come to shoot bullets at us," he said.

Calling on the Kashmiri diaspora, Mehran said July 5 should see visible protests from Birmingham to London. “If our Kashmiris across the oceans are listening, then raise this voice," he said.

He named several areas, including Abbaspur, Jandali, Chakswari, Islamgarh, Bhimber, Mirpur, Samahni, Kotli, Sehnsa, Nakyal, Muzaffarabad and Garhi Dupatta, and urged people from all regions to join the shutdown.

“On July 5, every single road, every shop, every intersection and every entry point across the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir must be completely shut down," Mehran said.

He also called for announcements from mosques, saying a message should go out from loudspeakers urging every Kashmiri to come out on the streets.

Rejecting claims that the protests were part of a “drama" or “staged negotiation", Mehran said the movement would not be intimidated by arrests or pressure tactics.

“Even if we have only one breath left, there will be no compromise. There will be no surrender. There will be resistance, resistance and only resistance," he said.

At the same time, Mehran said the movement did not seek chaos or destruction, but warned that people would not remain passive if force was used against them.

“We do not want to spread chaos; we do not want to spread destruction. But if a bullet is fired, we will not greet it with flowers," he said.

Addressing the security forces, he said the uniform deserved respect, but added that those using brutality against civilians must stop.

Mehran also asked people not to depend only on leaders, saying the movement belonged to every Kashmiri. He said decisions should be made through consultation and majority consensus if leaders were arrested or unavailable.

“Every person sitting here is the owner of this movement. Every person sitting here is the custodian of this movement," he said.

The call for a July 5 shutdown comes amid rising anger in PoK over alleged state repression, arrests, militarisation and restrictions, with JAAC leaders accusing the Pakistani establishment of using force to crush public dissent.

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Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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