Authorities in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have engaged in an escalating crackdown on civil society and protest movements since early June 2026. The government response to ongoing demonstrations—which includes mass arrests, communications blackouts, and the use of lethal force—has drawn concern regarding human rights violations, including the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, ahead of regional elections scheduled for July 27.
Did You Know? The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has led a sustained protest movement since 2023, was formally designated as a “proscribed organization” under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2014 on June 5, 2026, by the AJK government.
Origins of the JAAC Protests and Government Response
The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) initially organized around economic grievances, specifically high electricity costs and wheat shortages. Over time, the movement expanded its advocacy to include demands for increased economic subsidies, anti-corruption measures, and the abolition of 12 legislative assembly seats reserved for refugees who resettled in Pakistan after 1947.
Following a collapse in dialogue between the JAAC and federal officials in May 2026, the organization planned a rally for June 9. The AJK government responded on June 5 by labeling the group a terrorist entity, accusing it of intimidating the public and creating anarchy. Within 48 hours of this designation, police raided the JAAC central office in Muzaffarabad and arrested more than 100 people associated with the group.
Communications Blackouts and Lethal Force
To restrict information flow, authorities suspended all internet and mobile network services across the AJK region from June 5 through at least June 12. During this period, the government issued a travel advisory ordering tourists and outsiders to leave, effectively isolating the region from external monitoring. These actions made it difficult for families, journalists, and human rights observers to verify ground-level developments.
The situation turned lethal during confrontations between protestors and federal paramilitary troops. On June 5, JAAC activist Shahzeb Habib was shot and killed after police stopped his vehicle. While official reports initially cited at least eight protestors and four police officers dead, local accounts have estimated the death toll at more than 30 people, with over 200 others injured.
Expert Insight: The Pattern of Suppressing Dissent
Expert Insight: The tactical combination of counterterrorism legislation and media blackouts suggests a calculated effort to reframe political opposition as a national security threat. By shielding the government from scrutiny during a period of civil unrest, these measures create a significant barrier to the democratic process, particularly as the region approaches the July 27 election date.
Future Risks and International Recommendations
There is a risk that the current pattern of suppression will continue as the July 27 elections draw closer. Concerns remain regarding the ongoing prosecution of journalists, including one individual arrested under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for covering the movement on YouTube.
Genocide Watch has issued several recommendations, calling on Pakistani and AJK authorities to lift the terrorism designation of the JAAC and cease the use of anti-terrorism laws against civil society members and journalists. Other requested actions include restoring full communication services and conducting an independent investigation into all deaths resulting from the crackdown. The international community is being urged to press for adherence to standards on freedom of assembly and to facilitate access for independent monitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the primary economic demands of the JAAC?
The group originally organized to protest high electricity costs and wheat shortages, later expanding to demand anti-corruption measures, increased economic subsidies, and the removal of 12 reserved legislative seats.
Why was the JAAC designated as a proscribed organization?
The AJK government designated the group under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2014 on June 5, 2026, accusing it of intimidating the public and creating anarchy.
What was the impact of the communications blackout?
The suspension of internet and mobile services from June 5 to at least June 12 prevented journalists, human rights monitors, and residents’ families from verifying the status of individuals or the conditions on the ground during lethal clashes.
Will the restoration of open dialogue between the government and civil society organizations occur before the upcoming July 27 regional elections?
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