NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Friday called the Pakistani forces’ brutality on protestors in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) “horrific”, adding that it is a “natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach,” after 10 people were killed and many injured. Addressing the weekly press briefing in New Delhi, the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the ministry has taken cognisance of the reports on protests in several areas of PoK, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians. “We believe that it is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and systemic plundering of resources from these territories, which remain under its forcible and illegal occupation,” Jaiswal said. He added that Pakistan must be held accountable for its “horrific human rights violations.”

10 people killed in PoK protest

The protests in several areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) continued for a sixth consecutive day on Friday. It spread across several regions after Pakistani forces killed 10 people and injured many, according to a report from Pakistani news website Dawn. The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) led the protest, centred around a 38-point charter that demanded political reforms, subsidised wheat flour, reduced electricity tariffs, free education and health facilities, and the end of perks for government officials.Life in Muzaffarabad, which emerged as the epicentre of the agitation, was brought to a standstill as shops, markets and transport services were shut down.

Fresh clashes reported

According to a report from Reuters, people continued their protest in Muzaffarabad, and clashes between public and security forces were reported on Friday.According to ANI, which quoted Reuters, leader of Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, Shaukar Nawaz Mir, alleged that people were peacefully proesting on Neelum Bridge when “some facilitators, facilitators of institutions, arrived with institutional weapons in the presence of the administration and police, and opened direct fire.” “This was a peaceful lockdown call by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Public Action Committee. All the citizens of Muzaffarabad were peacefully recording their protest on Neelum Bridge when a few people, some facilitators, facilitators of institutions, arrived with institutional weapons in the presence of the administration and police, and opened direct fire on our venue,” he said. “We have evidence of this. As a result, one of our youth was martyred and more than 20 were injured by the direct fire. We will not forgive this murder under any circumstances,” he added.Faisal Jamil Kashmiri, a leader of Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, told Reuters, “These protests are growing because these promises have not been fully implemented. The issue of the 25 per cent quota for Jammu and Kashmir, which has been in place since 1947, is also a key reason. With an unemployment rate of 64 per cent, our youth are protesting to demand that this quota system be completely abolished.”