Pakistani security forces opened fire on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on 28 July, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 250 others, as a sweeping crackdown targeted demonstrators who had called for a boycott of the ongoing legislative assembly elections in the region. The Awami Action Committee (AAC), which has spearheaded the poll boycott campaign, confirmed the violence, urging international organisations and journalists to amplify the situation.

What Happened in Rawalakot

The worst of the violence was reported in the Dreik Eighth area of Rawalakot, where security forces allegedly used live ammunition and long-range tear gas shells against protesters. According to Indian intelligence inputs, snipers were deployed at multiple locations across PoK as the multi-phase election process commenced on Monday. An Intelligence Bureau official described the situation as 'very tense,' noting that thousands remained on the streets with no sign of the unrest subsiding. 'Even the brutalities are highest at this place, and estimates suggest that apart from the death of 20 people, over 250 have been injured in firing by the security forces,' the official said.

Orders to Use Force

Officials indicated that security forces had been explicitly ordered to open fire on those participating in the boycott. Field Marshal Asim Munir had reportedly held meetings with security commanders in the lead-up to the elections, directing them to use force if protests did not subside. A separate official said the protesters had been conducting demonstrations peacefully, but that the Pakistani establishment chose to frame them as a national security threat to justify the crackdown. 'There are no signs of the protests dying down,' officials said.

Communications and Services Blackout

In addition to the deployment of armed forces, the Pakistani establishment suspended internet and mobile services across large parts of PoK. Electricity and water supply were also cut off in several areas, effectively isolating the region from outside communication. The AAC called on journalists and international bodies to report the developments and help build pressure on Islamabad to halt what it described as atrocities against the people of PoK.

Background: Why the Boycott

13 seats are being contested in the current phase of PoK's legislative assembly elections. The boycott call gained significant traction over weeks of protests rooted in longstanding grievances — residents allege that successive governments, regardless of which party wins, have left the region chronically underdeveloped, with Islamabad retaining effective control. Protesters also allege that the Pakistani military routinely rigs elections to install a preferred administration. According to officials, the crackdown has not dampened the movement: 'The people feel they have come this far despite all the might and force being used against them. Hence, it would be futile to give up at this stage.'

Opposition in Pakistan Condemns Crackdown

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), publicly condemned the firing and accused the establishment of failing the people of PoK. He asserted that residents had every right to protest and that the election had been rigged. 'His party firmly stands with the people of PoK,' he said, urging the establishment to end what he called oppression. The condemnation marks a rare moment of cross-party censure of the Pakistani military's conduct in the disputed territory.