PRESS RELEASE
Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC)
Date: October 2, 2025
Location: Rawalakot / Muzaffarabad
Rawalakot/Muzaffarabad – The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC) Core Committee member, Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri, has issued an urgent appeal to the international media and global human rights organizations, calling for immediate attention to the ongoing crisis in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Since September 29, a peaceful public movement has been met with state repression, human rights violations, restrictions on civil liberties, and the killing of innocent civilians. According to Nazir, state forces and non-local personnel have carried out indiscriminate firing, killing at least 9 unarmed civilians and injuring hundreds more. Tragically, three personnel of the Azad Kashmir Police have also been killed by bullets fired by non-local forces.
Since September 28, the Government of Pakistan has enforced a complete communication blackout across Azad Kashmir, suspended mobile networks, internet, and landline connections, effectively cutting off millions of people from the outside world. Inter-provincial highways have been blocked to deliberately create shortages of essential goods, food, and fuel, while cases are being registered against JK-JAAC leaders, activists, and journalists.
“These actions,” Nazir said, “are not only a gross violation of human rights but also a clear breach of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which guarantee every individual the right to life, liberty, peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression.”
Highlighting the peaceful and constitutional nature of the ongoing struggle, Nazir reaffirmed that the JK-JAAC’s movement is rooted in the 38-point Charter of Demands submitted months ago, which remains unimplemented despite the government’s commitment in December 2024 to act upon 12 of its key points. Among the core demands of the JK-JAAC are independent and across-the-board accountability, elimination of unnecessary and excessive perks of the ruling elite, bureaucracy, and judiciary, transfer of full powers and funds to local governments, restoration of student unions, fixed quotas for persons with disabilities, abolition of 12 reserved seats for refugees settled in Pakistan, free and quality healthcare and education for all citizens, provision of interest-free loans to youth, tax reductions, recognition of rights of Mangla Dam affectees, meaningful judicial reforms, improvement of mobile services and elimination of corporate exploitation, provision of clean drinking water, support and opportunities for agricultural growth, protection of forests and prevention of illegal timber smuggling, establishment of the Azad Kashmir Expressway, construction of Leepa Valley Tunnel and Haveli–Bhadi Tunnel, reconstruction of the Azad Pattan–Sone road network, and the complete eradication of bribery, nepotism, and corruption in government institutions. “These demands are not acts of rebellion,” Nazir emphasized, “but reform-oriented proposals aimed at ensuring justice, dignity, and prosperity for the people of Azad Kashmir.”
Nazir underscored that Pakistan-administered Kashmir remains a disputed territory under UN Security Council resolutions, governed by the Azad Jammu & Kashmir Interim Constitution Act 1974, which establishes institutions such as the President, Prime Minister, and Supreme Court. Attempts by elements of the Pakistani establishment and non-state forces to crush a peaceful movement through violence constitute violations not only of the principle of self-determination but also of fundamental UN principles and the Geneva Conventions.
Nazir strongly criticized sections of the Pakistani media for spreading false and misleading narratives to conceal ground realities from Pakistan’s 250 million citizens and the international community. He appealed to the BBC, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, CNN, Al Jazeera, Fox News, AFP, The Independent Urdu, Arab Urdu, and The Washington Times to immediately dispatch representatives to Azad Kashmir. He further called upon the United Nations, OIC, European Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other global human rights bodies to urgently intervene, conduct independent investigations, and pressure Pakistan to end the bloodshed.
The JK-JAAC categorically states that it has not launched any campaign against the State of Pakistan or its Armed Forces. The movement is entirely peaceful and constitutional, directed only toward ensuring the social, economic, and political rights of the Kashmiri people. Nazir highlighted the enduring gratitude of Kashmiris for Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance during the 2005 earthquake, affirming the deep bonds between the people of Pakistan and Kashmir.
While welcoming the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s offer for dialogue, Nazir made clear that meaningful talks require an immediate end to the communication blackout. He further announced that the JK-JAAC will pursue legal action to secure justice for martyrs and victims of state violence, with over 100 civilians already wounded by live ammunition in the past days.
“Our struggle is peaceful, just, and constitutional,” Nazir declared. “We will not take up arms. But silence from the international community will only embolden perpetrators of human rights abuses and intensify the anger of the people.”
Issued by:
Office of the Spokesperson
Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JK-JAAC)
