The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) escalated significantly in June 2026, transforming from economic grievances into a broad-based movement against Pakistan's control. Initially demanding lower electricity prices and subsidized flour, JAAC's 38-point charter also sought to abolish 12 reserved assembly seats, challenging Islamabad's political strategy.
Pakistan responded with a brutal crackdown, including internet blackouts, mass arrests, deploying 14,000 additional forces, and proscribing JAAC as a "terrorist" organization. The suspicious killing of senior JAAC leader Shahzaib Habib on June 6 in Rawalakot became a flashpoint, sparking violent clashes and reports of at least 32 killed and over 50 injured. This exposed Pakistan's authoritarian face, drawing international condemnation from Amnesty International on June 9 and protests from British Kashmiris in London on June 14, highlighting Islamabad's hypocrisy in suppressing rights it champions internationally. The crisis underscores the fragility of Pakistan's governance model and the urgent need for accountability.
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