PoK Leaders Mobilise Residents For Mega March As Protests Persist Despite Deadly Crackdown

Last Updated:June 28, 2026, 16:46 IST

Anti-Pakistani Army protests have expanded beyond Rawalakot, with demonstrations also being held outside the Pakistan High Commission in London

Protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) continued to intensify as they approached the one-month mark, with leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) urging residents to prepare for a march to Muzaffarabad.

According to sources accessed by CNN-News18, Pakistan Rangers resumed action against protesters after a three-day pause during Muharram, carrying out overnight raids that allegedly resulted in the arrest of 28 Kashmiris and five women activists.

Sources said anti-Pakistani Army protests have expanded beyond Rawalakot, with demonstrations also being held outside the Pakistan High Commission in London and Pakistani diplomatic missions in Birmingham and other parts of the United Kingdom. Protesters said they were demonstrating in solidarity with residents of PoK amid the ongoing security crackdown.

The sources further alleged that internet restrictions have been imposed across parts of PoK, accusing Pakistani authorities of attempting to suppress communication and dissent. They also claimed security operations intensified during the night of June 27-28.

According to the sources, a two-year-old girl was killed during firing in Kotli’s Khawaja Bazaar area. The incident has since become a rallying point for protests by members of the Kashmiri diaspora in the United Kingdom.

The latest developments come amid an ongoing agitation led by the JAAC, which has continued despite the organisation being banned by Pakistani authorities under anti-terrorism laws earlier this month.

The unrest has also disrupted daily life across parts of PoK. A nearly two-week standoff between protesters and police has left residents grappling with food shortages, while the death toll from the clashes has risen to 22.

The JAAC, an anti-government movement demanding economic and governance reforms, has continued its agitation despite the ban. Pakistan Police said on Monday that 425 people linked to the group have been arrested since the unrest began in early June.

Sardar Waheed, the top civilian official in Rawalakot, one of the focal points of the unrest, said two more people had been killed during recent clashes.

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Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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