Memorandum to the Government of Pakistan. 9-9-2026

Through the High Commission of Pakistan, London

Subject: Immediate action required to end repression, restore fundamental rights and provide justice to the people of Pakistan -Administered Kashmir

We, the undersigned, concerned citizens, members of the Kashmiri diaspora, human rights defenders and supporters of democracy and fundamental rights, respectfully submit this petition to the Government of Pakistan concerning the grave and continuing situation in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir.

The people of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir have suffered immensely during the past more than three months. What began as a movement demanding fundamental rights, economic justice, accountable government and dignity has developed into a serious human rights and humanitarian crisis.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (Action Committee) has been demanding fundamental rights for the people. Its demands should not be confused with terrorism. The Action Committee and the people participating in its civil-rights movement must not be collectively labelled as terrorists simply because they have challenged government policies or taken to the streets to demand their rights.

Peaceful political dissent is not terrorism. Demanding fundamental rights is not terrorism.

We recognise that violence against civilians, police officers, public property or any other person must be investigated and dealt with according to law. However, allegations of violence by individuals cannot justify collective punishment of an entire population or the suppression of legitimate political and civil rights.

The human cost

The people of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir have paid an enormous price.

More than 100 people have reportedly lost their lives during the wider crisis, while hundreds have been injured. Human-rights organisations and other sources have documented allegations of excessive use of force, arrests, denial of medical access, communications restrictions and disruption of essential supplies.

Families have lost fathers, sons, brothers and other loved ones. Many injured people have reportedly struggled to obtain timely medical treatment. Reports have also raised serious concerns about restrictions affecting food, medicines, transport and other essential commodities.

No government should respond to a legitimate demand for rights by placing the civilian population under collective suffering.

The people of Kashmir are human beings with the same fundamental rights as people elsewhere. They have the right to life, liberty, dignity, peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, access to healthcare, due process and equal protection under the law.

Our demands

We therefore call upon the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir to take the following immediate steps:

1. Withdraw all politically motivated and fabricated FIRs

All false, fabricated and politically motivated FIRs registered against peaceful political activists, members of the Action Committee, journalists, lawyers, human-rights defenders and ordinary citizens must be withdrawn.

No person should be prosecuted merely for participating peacefully in a political or civil-rights movement.

2. Withdraw all punitive actions taken since 5 June 2026

All administrative, legal and punitive actions taken against peaceful activists and citizens since 5 June 2026 should be reviewed and withdrawn where they relate solely to peaceful political or civil-rights activity.

This should include the withdrawal of politically motivated cases, restrictions, harassment and other punitive measures imposed on peaceful activists and their families.

The Government itself announced the reinstatement of protest-related cases following its decision of 5 June 2026, demonstrating the urgent need for an independent review of these cases.

3. Release political and civil-rights activists

All persons detained solely because of their peaceful political activity, participation in demonstrations or expression of dissent should be released immediately, unless there is credible evidence of a recognisable criminal offence established through due legal process.

4. Compensation for families of those killed

The families of all civilians who lost their lives during the protests and subsequent unrest must receive adequate financial compensation.

Compensation must not be treated as a substitute for justice. Every death must be independently investigated, and those responsible for unlawful killings must be held accountable.

5. Compensation and medical support for the injured

All persons injured during the unrest must receive free and adequate medical treatment.

Those who have suffered permanent disabilities or loss of earning capacity must receive appropriate compensation and long-term medical and rehabilitation support.

6. Compensation for businesses and other economic losses

Businesses, shopkeepers, traders, transport operators, daily-wage workers and other people who suffered financial losses as a direct consequence of prolonged restrictions, violence, curfews, road blockades or other government measures must also receive appropriate compensation.

People should not be economically punished simply because they live in an area affected by political unrest.

7. Restore unrestricted access to food and medicines

Food, medicines, milk, baby formula and other essential commodities must never be used as instruments of political pressure.

The authorities must guarantee uninterrupted access to essential supplies and ensure that hospitals, ambulances, doctors and medical workers can operate without obstruction. Human-rights documentation has specifically raised concerns about restrictions affecting medical access and essential supplies.

8. Establish an independent investigation

We demand an independent, impartial and credible judicial or international-standard investigation into:

• All deaths;
• All serious injuries;
• The use of live ammunition and other force;
• The conduct of security forces;
• Allegations of excessive or unlawful use of force;
• Denial or obstruction of medical treatment;
• Arrests and detention of civilians;
• Missing persons;
• Destruction or damage to property;
• Restrictions on food and medicines;
• Communications shutdowns; and
• Any violence committed by protesters or other individuals.

The investigation must have the power to obtain official records, examine police and security-force orders, interview witnesses and publish its findings.

9. Publish the complete lists

The authorities should publish verified and independently reviewable lists of:

• Those killed;
• Those injured;
• Those arrested or detained;
• Those missing; and
• Those facing criminal charges.

Families have a fundamental right to know the fate of their loved ones.

10. End collective punishment

No population should be punished collectively for the alleged actions of particular individuals.

If an individual has committed a crime, that individual should be prosecuted according to law. The entire population must not be treated as criminal because some individuals may have committed offences.

11. Guarantee fundamental rights

The Government of Pakistan must respect and guarantee the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, including:

• Freedom of expression;
• Freedom of peaceful assembly;
• Freedom of association;
• Freedom of movement;
• Freedom of the press;
• Access to healthcare;
• Due process and fair trial;
• Protection of property; and
• The right to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives.
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12. Begin meaningful political dialogue

The crisis cannot be resolved through force, arrests, FIRs or military and paramilitary deployments.

The Government of Pakistan and the Government of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir should immediately enter into meaningful, direct and unconditional dialogue with representatives of the Action Committee and other legitimate representatives of civil society.

The objective should be to resolve the outstanding grievances through peaceful political means.

Our appeal

We appeal to the Government of Pakistan to recognise that the people of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir are not the enemy.

They are citizens whose grievances deserve to be heard.

The Action Committee's demand for fundamental rights should be addressed through dialogue and democratic institutions, not through force.

We urge the Government of Pakistan to learn from the suffering of the past three months and to take immediate steps to restore confidence, justice and peace.

The deaths cannot be reversed.

The injuries cannot simply be forgotten.

The suffering of families cannot be ignored.

But justice, accountability and reconciliation are still possible.

We therefore call upon the Government of Pakistan to:

·      Stop the repression.

·      Withdraw the false and politically motivated cases.

·      Release those detained for peaceful political activity.

·      Compensate the victims and their families.

·      Restore fundamental rights.

·      Ensure access to food and medicine.

·      Conduct an independent investigation.

·      Resolve the remaining issues through meaningful dialogue.

The people of Pakistan-Administered Kashmir deserve justice, dignity, democracy, fundamental rights and peace, not force and repression.

Signed:
Concerned citizens, members of the Kashmiri diaspora, human-rights defenders and supporters of democracy

 

London, United Kingdom
9 September 2029