Joint Public Action Committee Hands Over Memorandum to UK Authorities
On Monday, a delegation of the Joint Public Action Committee (JPAC), representing the Kashmiri diaspora in the United Kingdom, submitted a formally signed memorandum to the British Home Office and local authorities in London. The document was prepared in response to a series of violent incidents reported in Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir, particularly in the Rawalakot district, where Pakistani security forces are alleged to have opened fire on peaceful demonstrators on 5 November 2026.
The memorandum outlines a comprehensive set of demands: immediate cessation of lethal operations against civilians, unhindered delivery of medical and humanitarian assistance, stringent preservation of evidence for future legal scrutiny, and the recommencement of direct negotiations between the Pakistani government and Kashmiri stakeholders.
JPAC highlighted that the recent crackdown resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, including women and children, and left dozens severely injured. It also cited drone strikes that targeted non‑combatant areas, raising grave concerns under international humanitarian law.
In addition to calling for independent investigations into alleged extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and communications blackouts, the committee referenced six United Nations special procedures that have expressed alarm over the human‑rights situation in the occupied territory. The memorandum urges Pakistan to respond to these UN concerns, cease labeling Kashmiri civil society groups as terrorist entities, and refrain from employing excessive force unless absolutely necessary to prevent loss of life.
Key interim measures proposed include: prohibition of weapon use for crowd dispersion except in life‑threatening scenarios, safeguarding of forensic evidence, prompt medical treatment for the wounded, accountability for detainees and missing persons, and a review of legal provisions under Pakistan’s anti‑terrorism statutes that have been applied to Kashmiri activists.
The JPAC concluded by appealing to the UK government to use its diplomatic influence to press Pakistan for compliance with international standards, ensure the safety of Kashmiri civilians, and support a credible, political pathway toward a durable resolution of the Kashmir dispute.