Islamabad, Oct 2 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed “deep concern” over the worsening law and order situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where violent protests have claimed at least nine lives.
Sharif announced the expansion of a federal negotiation committee to engage with protest leaders in an effort to restore peace. His intervention followed a three-day strike called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) after talks between the group, PoK representatives, and the federal government collapsed.
According to The News, six civilians and three police personnel have been killed in the unrest, which has seen widespread clashes between protesters and security forces.
The protests, led by JKJAAC, have centred around demands for better rights, economic relief, and accountability from both the PoK administration and Islamabad.