The Shehbaz Sharif-led government in Pakistan has been given “one final opportunity” by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to address its demands, with the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir claiming more than 30 lives so far.
The JAAC, which is spearheading the anti-government protests, has reportedly planned to suspend its long march until July 21. It is a coalition of diverse socio-political groups in the region. Some of its major demands include the release of its arrested leaders and activists, an end to the “brutal” security crackdown, improved access to basic amenities in the region, including electricity and food supplies, as well as restoration of communication services.
After the expiry of its July 14 deadline, the JAAC had earlier mobilised thousands of supporters for a long march towards Muzaffarabad. However, the march has now been suspended following negotiations with Pakistani authorities, reportedly involving Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir.
If no concrete action is taken, the coalition will resume the long march toward Muzaffarabad on July 22, while the ongoing sit-ins across PoJK continues.
The region has been rocked by deadly protests for over a month now and continues to remains on edge. On Tuesday, at least 12 people, including two security personnel, were killed and several others got injured in clashes in Rawalakot.
According to BBC Urdu, authorities imposed an undeclared media blackout on Rawalakot and barred journalists from entering the city. The establishment is also believed to have deployed at least 4,000 Rangers, police and Frontier Corps personnel to stop the protest march.
Here’s a timeline of the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir:
2023: JAAC came into existence out of protests against rising electricity tariffs and inflation in the region. Led by activist Shaukat Nawaz Mir, it represents traders and civil society groups.
May 2024: A march to Muzaffarabad was called by the JAAC to take on the administration. However, police ultimately arrested nearly 70 members of the coalition, while protests against the arrests resulted in clashes between civilians and the police, leaving at least four dead and several others injured. Post that, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had even approved the grant of a $86.25 million subsidy programme.
September and October 2025: JAAC officially released a comprehensive 38-point charter of demands and initiated a lockdown. Overall, they demanded access to subsidised wheat flour, fair electricity pricing as well as abolishment of the reservation of 12 seats for refugees in PoK’s Legislative Assembly.
October 2025: After a breakdown of talks between officials and the JAAC, the region witnessed major protests, which saw at least 10 people being killed. Thereafter, the government agreed to some demands, such as providing compensation for those killed in the violence and issuing a grant of PKR 10 billion for the improvement of the electricity system.
May 2026: Marathon talks take place between a federal ministerial team and the core leadership of the JAAC. Ultimately, these came to an end without a breakthrough, prompting the latter to announce that its June 9 strike would proceed as planned.
June 5, 2026: Describing JAAC as a “proscribed organisation,” the local administration banned the rights alliance under the PoJK Anti-Terrorism Act, citing reports about its involvement in “potential violence, acquisition of weapons, attacks on law-enforcement personnel, and plans to disrupt normal life.”
June 6 and 7, 2026: Local media reports said that police have launched a major crackdown and arrested over 100 people associated with JAAC, besides raiding and sealing its central office in Muzaffarabad city on June 7.
June 8, 2026: Police said that at least 11 people were killed and dozens of others were wounded as cops clashed with supporters after the Supreme Court of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir ruled that 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan are constitutionally protected and these cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment.
June 30, 2026: Police arrested Shaukat Nawaz Mir during a raid on a house, government administrator Munir Qureshi said. He added that Mir faces sedition charges for allegedly inciting violence during protests. Besides this, the government arrests more than 600 civil rights activists, triggering widespread protests in the region.
July 5, 2026: Massive anti-Pakistan protests erupted across all the areas of PoJK against the severe government crackdown and the sweeping arrests.
July 7, 2026: The JAAC issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Shehbaz Sharif-led government in Islamabad, warning of a “grand and final” phase of protests if it failed to address its 38-point charter of demands.
July 14: MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ongoing protests in PoJK are a “direct consequence of Pakistan’s decades-long systemic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights and administrative oppression in areas under its illegal and forcible occupation.”. He highlighted that rather than addressing the legitimate grievances of the local population, “the Pakistani state has responded with excessive police brutality, including against helpless women and children, blocking essential supplies, including food and medicine, enforcing internet blackouts, and deploying lethal force against unarmed civilians that has led to tragic fatalities. We expect and hope that the international community will hold Pakistan fully accountable to these egregious abuses and mistreats.”
What’s at stake?
The violence-hit region is all set to vote on July 27 to elect its next legislature that all 45 seats in all, including the 12 reserved seats.
A major flashpoint of the protests is the reservation of 12 seats in the legislature for refugees, with the JAAC calling for the abolition of the reserved seats.