LONDON, June 9: Kashmiri protesters on Tuesday staged a demonstration in front of the Pakistani Consulate in Bradford, the UK, over the firing on mourners at a funeral in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in which at least 11 people were killed.
This came days after 30 British MPs sought diplomatic intervention over the massive human rights abuses in PoK.
The clampdown in PoK came amid a planned protest rally by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) for subsidised flour and electricity. The JAAC was outlawed on Friday by authorities, citing concerns over public order and security.
Protesters on Tuesday gathered outside the Pakistani Consulate in Bradford and accused the Pakistani authorities of using excessive force against civilians participating in demonstrations across PoK.
Organisers, many of them from the Kashmiri diaspora, claimed that several civilians were killed and injured during the firing by Pakistani security forces, particularly in Rawalakot, where protests have intensified since June 5.
This came even as nearly 30 British MPs led by Bradford East MP Imran Hussain, a parliamentarian with roots in PoK, urged the UK government to intervene diplomatically amid reports of arrests, communication blackouts, and escalating tensions in the region.
The clampdown by the Pakistani administration in the illegally occupied territory came as the JAAC planned a protest march to get the government to implement a 38-point agenda, which demands subsidised flour and electricity.Â
The unrest in PoK was reportedly triggered by demands for basic rights, economic relief, affordable electricity, and greater accountability from the authorities.
PoK activists involved in the movement alleged that security crackdowns over the past two days had resulted in more than 100 deaths and numerous injuries.
The unrest comes amid growing international scrutiny of developments in PoK. The grievances channelled in the protest are not new. There have been several agitations in the past on the shortage of electricity and food.
A British parliamentary group of around 30 MPs formally raised concerns over reports of communication disruptions, arrests, and increasing tensions in PoK.
In a letter sent to the UK Foreign Office, Bradford East MP Imran Hussain, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Kashmir, cited reports of a communications blackout as part of a broader lockdown in the region.
The letter, signed by 30 Members of Parliament, urged the British government to “engage proactively and use all appropriate diplomatic channels to encourage de-escalation and a peaceful resolution” of the situation.
The parliamentarians expressed concern about reports of arrests, including those involving British nationals, restrictions on communications, and what they described as a breakdown in dialogue between authorities and representatives of the JAAC.
“We are also concerned by reports of arrests, including those of British nationals, restrictions on communications, and a breakdown in dialogue between the authorities and representatives of the JAAC,” the MPs stated in the letter.
The group of British MPs further warned that communication restrictions in a politically sensitive environment could worsen tensions and undermine public confidence. (PTI)
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