Crescent International
By Muhammad Tariq
Canadians of Kashmiri origin held a noisy but peaceful protest outside the Pakistan Consulate in Toronto today (June 15).
Despite being a working day, a significant number of people came out to protest the killing of people in Rawalakot in Azad Kashmir a week ago.
Among the protesters were those who had lost family members to firing by the federal paramilitary force, the Rangers.
Reports say that at least 11 people were killed on June 7 during what the officials described as clashes between police and protesters in Azad Kashmir’s Rawalakot city, capital of Poonch district.
Other reports claimed at least 150 to 200 dead.
Kashmiris in Canada rarely protest against the heavy-handed attitude of Pakistani security forces.
In the past, Kashmiris and their friends have held rallies in Toronto to condemn Indian army brutalities in Occupied Kashmir.
The brutal manner in which security forces attacked and killed peaceful protesters in Rawalakot has forced Kashmiris in Canada to raise their voices in protest against the Pakistani forces as well.
They delivered a protest letter to officials at the Pakistan Consulate with the demand that this be communicated to the authorities in Pakistan.
Protesters demanded freedom from both India and Pakistan.
This is an ominous development but regrettably the current dispensation in Pakistan, dominated by the military, has no regard for the wishes and aspirations of the people.
Trouble started in Rawalakot over the allocation of 12 reserve seats in the 45-member state assembly of AJK for refugees from Indian occupied Kashmir.
These are allocated to refugees no longer residing in AJK.
They have moved to other parts of Pakistan.
Most refugees from Indian occupied Kashmir reside in camps in AJK.
Their living conditions are quite appalling forcing the more enterprising among them to move to cities in Pakistan.
A group calling itself the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), decided to protest the local government’s decision over the seats’ allocation.
The JAAC argues that seats should be contested by people residing in AJK, which has special status under the constitution of Pakistan.
The grassroots umbrella organisation representing traders and traders and civil society groups, planned tohold a protest in Rawalakot on June 9.
On June 5, the local administration banned the JAAC accusing it of indulging in “terrorist activities”.
This is a label slapped on any group that disagrees with government policy.
Before the JAAC held its planned protest, the Rangers and police fired at them killing a large number of protesters on June 7.
Many more were injured.
According to eyewitnesses, the security forces did not allow the injured to be taken to hospital.
Many observers compared the Pakistani security forces’ behaviour to that of Indian troops in Occupied Kashmir.
The JAAC emerged in 2023 as the leader of a protest movement across AJK.
It is led by activist Shaukat Nawaz Mir.
In a video message on X responding to the June 7 shooting, Mir accused the authorities of unleashing violence in Rawalakot, saying, “The state has begun a massacre of our people in Rawalakot.”
Protests against the heavy-handed attitude of Pakistani security forces were also held outside the British parliament on June 14.
Thousands of Kashmiris attended the rally in London.
The situation has become so alarming that even Amnesty International issued a statement expressing concern over the killings.
The Pakistan army behaves like an occupation force killing Pakistanis as well as Kashmiris who dare question its policies.
The army’s brutal tactics have put the very existence of Pakistan at risk.
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