 on Saturday, marking one month since the alleged firing by the Pakistani Army){kind=link}
Thousands protest across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as fresh clashes, arrests and allegations of firing deepen tensions.
July 5, 2026: Mass protests erupted across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Saturday, marking one month since the alleged firing by the Pakistani Army on civilians that sparked widespread unrest. Thousands of protesters, including women and children, gathered in Rawalakot, Bagh, Kotli and Hajira, raising slogans against the Pakistani government and military. Fresh violence was reported in Muzaffarabad and Dadyal, where security forces allegedly used tear gas and opened fire on demonstrators. At least nine people were reportedly injured in the latest clashes.
The protests come amid an intensified crackdown in which more than 600 civil rights activists have reportedly been arrested. The detention of prominent protest leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir has further fuelled public anger, with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) demanding his immediate release and calling for larger demonstrations. The group accused authorities of suppressing dissent and urged people to continue mobilising despite the crackdown.
JAAC leader Sardar Aman Khan also highlighted alleged shortages of food and medicines in PoK, appealing for humanitarian support from people living across the Line of Control. Addressing large gatherings, Khan criticised Pakistan’s handling of the unrest and declared that residents would not be intimidated. In another widely shared video, he called for greater public participation and urged journalists to document the growing movement as tensions continue to rise in the region.