Baloch human rights activists on Thursday, 11 June strongly condemned the violent crackdown by Pakistani authorities against peaceful protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as reports indicated that dozens of people had been killed and hundreds injured in deadly clashes between law enforcement personnel and demonstrators in Rawalakot city.

Background: The JAAC Ban and Protest Crackdown

The clashes erupted days after Pakistani authorities in the occupied territory declared the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) a proscribed organisation under anti-terrorism laws, ahead of its planned protest on 9 June. Critics argue the ban was a pre-emptive attempt to suppress political dissent rather than a legitimate counter-terrorism measure. The JAAC had been at the forefront of civil society mobilisation in PoK over issues of political rights and economic deprivation.

Mahrang Baloch Speaks from Prison

Leading Baloch human rights activist and chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), Mahrang Baloch, currently imprisoned at Huda Jail in Quetta, posted a statement on X condemning the ban. 'The ban imposed on the Joint Public Action Committee (JAAC) is not merely a restriction on an organisation; rather, it reflects the state's continuous oppressive conduct against the freedom of expression, political liberty, and the struggle for fundamental rights of the people in oppressed regions,' she wrote. She further described the developments in PoK as a reflection of the 'oppressive mindset and policy' of the Pakistani state.

Baloch National Movement Draws Parallel to Decades of Repression

Naseem Baloch, chairman of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), sharply criticised what he called the ruthless suppression of public voices, mass arrests, and the use of force to crush political demands. Posting on X, he stated: 'Since 1948, the Baloch nation has endured similar forms of persecution, military aggression, political repression, enforced disappearances, and human rights violations. Therefore, we understand the pain, suffering, and sense of deprivation experienced by the Kashmiri people better than anyone.' His remarks drew a pointed historical parallel between the Baloch and Kashmiri experiences under Pakistani authority.

Calls for International Action

Human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch condemned the violence, citing reports of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and widespread human rights violations in PoK. He argued that peace and stability in South Asia cannot be achieved as long as military occupation and political repression persist in the region. Posting on X, he called upon 'the United Nations and the international community to take meaningful steps toward protecting civilian populations, upholding international law, and supporting peaceful and democratic solutions to long-standing conflicts.'

Mir also highlighted what he described as a fundamental contradiction in Pakistan's foreign policy posture: 'For decades, Pakistan has attempted to portray itself as a champion of the Kashmiri cause while denying basic political rights and economic opportunities to the very people it claims to represent,' he said, urging the international community to hold all parties accountable to the principles of human rights, self-determination, and democratic governance.

Wider Context

This condemnation comes amid a broader pattern of civil unrest in PoK, where public grievances over inflation, lack of political autonomy, and economic marginalisation have periodically flared into street protests. Notably, the simultaneous imprisonment of a prominent Baloch activist and the crackdown in PoK underscore what critics describe as a systemic pattern of suppressing dissent across multiple regions under Pakistani administration. The situation is expected to draw renewed scrutiny from international human rights bodies.