The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) announced on Tuesday, 21 July that the voluntary shutdown and wheel-jam strike in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) remains in force, while designating July 23 as a 'day of utmost importance' and calling on residents of Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions to join protests in full force.

Key Developments

The JAAC, in a series of posts on X, urged people across PoK to participate in demonstrations demanding implementation of their longstanding grievances and to pray for those killed during the movement. The group also confirmed that Jibran Mushtaq Faram Taraar, a resident of Rawalakot who had been undergoing treatment in Islamabad after being shot in the head by security forces, has succumbed to his injuries.

'Despite 45 days of ongoing oppression and brutality, mass killings, and violations of basic human rights by the rulers, we salute the steadfastness of the Kashmiri people,' the JAAC posted on X, adding that 'dozens of individuals have been murdered in retaliation for demanding their rights.'

What JAAC Said About July 23

The committee announced that an 'important announcement' will be made on July 23 regarding what it described as the 'tarnishing of the democratic process and the imposition of fraudsters, cunning individuals, and hypocrites on the people through sham elections at gunpoint.' The statement signals an escalation ahead of the July 27 elections in PoK, which the JAAC has framed as illegitimate.

Background: Strike, Long March, and Negotiations

The unrest in PoK has claimed over 30 lives, according to reports, as tensions mounted in the weeks preceding the scheduled elections. Last week, the JAAC suspended a planned long march toward Muzaffarabad until July 21, offering the Pakistani government what it described as 'one final opportunity' to address its demands.

Following the expiry of a July 14 deadline, thousands of JAAC supporters — including women and children — had mobilised in caravans converging on Rawalakot and other protest sites. After negotiations with Pakistani authorities, the march was suspended, though ongoing sit-ins across PoK have continued. The JAAC has warned the march will resume if no concrete action is taken.

UN Human Rights Office Raises Alarm

On 17 July, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) expressed serious concern over the situation. Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that 'the criminalisation of a civil society organisation and imposition of strict limitations on gatherings raise serious concerns about infringements on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.'

Laurence added that 'detained JAAC leaders must have access to legal representation and their families' and that their 'rights to due process and fair trial must be fully guaranteed.' UN High Commissioner Volker Turk called for calm and urged 'prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all deaths that have occurred due to the unrest, both amongst protesters and members of security forces.'

The OHCHR noted that the JAAC — a broad-based movement comprising traders, transporters, students, lawyers, and activists — has been banned by Pakistani authorities under anti-terrorism laws for allegedly threatening public order and security, with several of its leaders subsequently arrested.

What Comes Next

With the July 27 PoK election approaching and the JAAC threatening fresh mobilisation, the coming days are likely to be critical. The committee's promised announcement on July 23 could determine whether protests intensify or negotiations resume, as international scrutiny of the situation continues to grow.