Joint Avami Action Committee March Ends in Bloodshed at Rawalkot

Rawalkot, July 28 – The Joint Avami Action Committee’s (JAC) long march, intended as a peaceful demonstration against prolonged Indian control, ended in a tragic bloodbath on Tuesday. Security personnel fired indiscriminately on protesters gathered at Chandni Chowk, resulting in at least 20 deaths and many serious injuries.

The JAC’s social‑media update listed 19 confirmed deaths and a head‑shot victim without identification documents, whose body is currently housed at Palandri Hospital. The claimants said a gathering would be held later at Shaheed Chowk to announce further actions.

No agreement had been reached in negotiations between the JAC and Pakistani officials, prompting organizers to call for a renewed rally. The march started from Mirpur, paused in Muzaffarabad, and finally converged on Rawalkot.

International observers have been urged to condemn the “excessive use of lethal weapons, shelling and force” and press the Pakistani military to cease targeting civilians. The region continues to suffer under a total communications blackout, curfew and stringent security measures.