30 Dead, 200 Injured in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Election Protests

Muzaffarabad. At least 30 people have died and around 200 have been injured after protests intensified ahead of the regional elections to be held on July 27 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, turning violent.

Pakistani security forces have been accused of firing on protesters. The local administration has launched a widespread crackdown after at least 11 people died in violent clashes in Rawalakot on Sunday night.  

Since then, the death toll has been rising until Tuesday. Similarly, the regional government has ordered treason cases to be filed against four top leaders of the banned JACC. A reward of 10 million Pakistani rupees has also been announced for their arrest.

JACC had called for a region-wide strike protesting the decision to reserve 12 seats for refugees in the regional assembly elections to be held on July 27. The decision to reserve 12 seats for refugees among the 45-member assembly has become the main cause of dispute in other parts of Pakistan.

The rights group Joint Awami Action Committee (JACC) had called for the movement interpreting this step as political interference to suppress local public opinion. Mainly police vehicles were seen on the streets.