UNITED NATIONS | August 8, 2026
UN Calls for Accountability Over PoK Protest Violence, Raises Concerns Over Deaths, JAAC Ban and Internet Curbs
UN on PoK Protests: The United Nations has called for accountability if peaceful demonstrators were harmed during unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, which India refers to as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while backing an earlier appeal for impartial investigations into protest-related deaths and restrictions on civil liberties.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said authorities everywhere have an obligation to allow peaceful demonstrations and that accountability should follow if people exercising that right were harmed.
“It’s important that all authorities everywhere allow for peaceful protest, and certainly that is the case here,” Haq told PTI. He added that if peaceful protesters had suffered harm, “there needs to be accountability.”
Guterres Backs UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk
Haq was responding to a question about Guterres’ position on the deteriorating security situation in the territory and the recent violence surrounding protests.
He said the UN secretary-general supports the work of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk and expressed hope that the concerns raised by the human rights chief would be taken seriously.
Türk’s office had already issued a formal warning on July 17, expressing concern over a wave of unrest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir ahead of regional elections.
UN Seeks Investigation Into Protest-Related Deaths
The UN Human Rights Office called for prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into deaths linked to the unrest.
According to the UN, dozens of people had reportedly been killed since June, with most of the dead described as protesters, although members of law enforcement agencies were also among those killed.
The UN’s position is that investigations should cover all deaths, including those of protesters as well as security personnel, rather than assigning responsibility before evidence is established.
Separate reporting before the elections documented repeated clashes between security forces and supporters of the protest movement. On July 15 alone, local officials said seven civilians, one paramilitary member and one police officer were killed in renewed violence.
What Is Behind the Unrest in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir?
The unrest has been driven in large part by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a broad protest movement comprising traders, transporters, students, lawyers, activists and other civil society groups.
Protesters have raised a range of economic, governance and political demands.
The situation intensified ahead of elections to the territory’s Legislative Assembly, which were originally scheduled around July 27 but were later divided into multiple phases because of security concerns.
Demonstrations, sit-ins and clashes had been taking place for weeks before voting began.
Why Did Pakistan Ban the JAAC?
Pakistani authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee under anti-terrorism laws, accusing the organization of posing a threat to public order and security.
The UN Human Rights Office expressed concern about the decision, saying the criminalization of a civil society organization and severe restrictions on public gatherings raised questions about the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.
The UN also raised concerns over the detention of JAAC leaders.
Its intervention does not amount to an endorsement of every action taken during the protests; rather, the human rights office has emphasized that authorities must protect peaceful assembly while impartially investigating violence and deaths involving all sides.
Internet Restrictions Also Draw UN Concern
Internet and communications restrictions have become another major issue.
The UN Human Rights Office urged authorities to ensure full internet access throughout the territory, warning that communications shutdowns can interfere with freedom of expression and people’s ability to receive and share information.
Restrictions on public gatherings were also cited among the measures causing concern.
The UN has called for the underlying grievances of residents to be addressed through meaningful and inclusive political dialogue rather than escalating confrontation.
How Many People Have Been Killed?
The precise death toll remains disputed.
The United Nations has said dozens of people were reportedly killed from June onward, including mostly protesters but also law enforcement personnel. That is the figure supported by the UN Human Rights Office’s public statement.
The JAAC has made considerably higher claims, alleging that more than 40 people died during the first phase of polling on July 27 and that hundreds have been killed since protests began in June.
Pakistan’s government has rejected those numbers as exaggerated. Prime Ministerial adviser Rana Sanaullah said the total number of deaths was in the double digits and noted that security personnel had also been killed.
Because of the conflicting figures, casualty numbers beyond those independently or officially verified should be treated as claims rather than established totals.
Elections Also Hit by Security Crisis
The turmoil has complicated the regional election process.
The first phases of voting were held on July 27 and August 2, amid reports of violent demonstrations and allegations surrounding the conduct of the election.
Authorities subsequently postponed voting in several constituencies that had been scheduled for a later phase, citing the deteriorating law-and-order situation.
The prolonged unrest has therefore evolved from a protest movement into a broader political and human rights challenge for Islamabad and the territory’s local administration.
What Is the UN Demanding Now?
The UN’s position centers on four issues: protecting the right to peaceful protest, establishing accountability where protesters or security personnel have been unlawfully harmed, conducting impartial investigations into deaths, and restoring civil liberties including internet access.
Türk has also urged authorities and political stakeholders to resolve the grievances behind the unrest through dialogue before tensions escalate further.
Haq’s latest comments reinforce that message and place renewed international attention on Pakistan’s handling of protests in the territory.
As unrest continues, the key questions will be whether authorities permit peaceful demonstrations, whether investigations into the deaths are seen as independent and credible, and whether political dialogue can reduce tensions.
