New AJK Rights Report Documents 90 Fatalities and Calls for Independent Investigation into Deaths, Detentions and Disappearances
JKHRO warns that the crisis has widened from fatal incidents and communications restrictions to educational sanctions, disputed detention, and measures affecting families and civic institutions.
The Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Observatory (JKHRO) has published Human Rights Situation Report No. 5, documenting 90 named fatalities during the continuing crisis in Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir between 5 June and 22 September 2026.
The report examines 120 days marked by deaths during protest-related operations and disputed armed incidents, communications restrictions, mass arrests, anti-terrorism prosecutions, unresolved detention and disappearance allegations, disruption to education, and administrative action affecting activists’ families and civic institutions.
The report does not conclude that every death involved the same actor, circumstances or legal cause. It presents the 90-name register as a documentation baseline and identifies cases in which responsibility, sequence of events or legal classification remains disputed. A further ten names have not been added because the available information was insufficient for case-level verification.
“The purpose of this report is not to compress every death into a single narrative. It is to preserve a credible, case-by-case record that families, investigators, journalists and international institutions can test against primary evidence. Eighty-nine people are named. Every one of those names requires truth, lawful investigation and an effective remedy.”— Yasir Shafaat, Author.
International concern has already focused on the reported use of lethal force, restrictions on communications and the use of anti-terrorism law in the context of protest. Amnesty International called for a prompt, independent and transparent investigation, restoration of communications and access for media and independent observers. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan called for investigations into alleged deaths and injuries, due process for detainees, review of anti-terrorism and preventive-detention measures, and inclusive political dialogue.
Deaths, disputed incidents and family rights
JKHRO calls for a prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into every potentially unlawful death and serious injury documented since June 2026. Several priority cases require access to post-mortem reports, hospital records, ballistic evidence, CCTV, mobile-phone footage, deployment orders, command logs, ammunition records and witness testimony.
The report also records allegations that the bodies of Shahzaib Habib, Fahad Barkat and Usman Sabir have not been returned to their families. According to information supplied to JKHRO, the bodies were temporarily buried by the AJK Police at an undisclosed location. JKHRO says these allegations require immediate official clarification, disclosure of the location and legal status of the remains, preservation of evidence and independent verification.
“A family should never be left to search for the location of a loved one’s remains or rely on rumours about detention, burial or death. The authorities can resolve many of these cases by disclosing custody, medical, mortuary and burial records. Silence deepens harm and undermines public trust.”— Azar Ahmed, Director, JKHRO.
The report separately examines disputed cases involving Jabir Mumtaz, Faizan Shan, Sardar Usama Jameel, Commander Sardar Muhammad Farooq Khan, Naqash Zardad and Fahad Barkat. It does not adopt official or community accounts as conclusive where the available evidence remains contested.
Arrests, anti-terrorism measures and unresolved custody
The report raises concern over the use of anti-terrorism, preventive-detention and Fourth Schedule measures in the context of a mass civil-rights movement. It contains a court-document-based account of 88 people detained in Islamabad following a solidarity protest. JKHRO stresses that an FIR or remand order does not establish guilt, but each charge and detention must be supported by individualised evidence and prompt judicial scrutiny.
A separate case concerns JKJAAC leader Shoukat Nawaz Mir. The report records the contradiction between media accounts describing his arrest, the family’s High Court application for his production, and subsequent official denials of custody. It also records an urgent missing-person allegation concerning Dr Abdul Manan, which remains unverified and requires disclosure of custody, hospital, court and agency records.
Education and civic institutions
Official documents obtained by JKHRO show that the registration of 13 private schools was withdrawn under an order dated 23 July 2026. The stated basis concerned alleged participation by school management, staff or students in activities characterised by the authorities as prejudicial to the integrity and solidarity of the State.
The report also examines the reported sealing of Chinar Public Model School following the arrest of Muhammad Shafique. It says the available information raises a serious question as to whether measures directed at an individual were extended to students, teachers and an educational institution without a separate and proportionate basis.
“When action against an adult disrupts the education of children who are not accused of wrongdoing, the burden is on the authorities to show a clear legal basis, institution-specific evidence and strict proportionality. Education must not become collateral damage in a political or security dispute.”— Dr Ishtiaq Khaliq, Director, JKHRO
JKHRO calls for immediate continuity-of-learning arrangements, institution-specific review of the deregistration decisions, disclosure of the legal basis for school sealing, and protection of children from losing access to education because of adults’ actual or alleged civic activity.
Communications restrictions and access to information
The report says internet and mobile restrictions materially obstructed independent reporting, family contact, legal assistance, education, digital banking and evidence collection. Public reporting on the phased restoration of services stated that Rawalakot and Sudhnoti remained excluded when restoration began elsewhere. JKHRO calls for ordinary communications access and entry for journalists, lawyers, medical personnel, human-rights monitors and independent observers.
Demolition case raises concern over measures affecting families
The report documents the demolition of a dera or guest house associated with the family of JKJAAC core committee member Khawaja Mehran Arshad in Dadyal. The administration said the structure had been built illegally on state land and that notices had been issued. JKJAAC alleged that the demolition was politically motivated and intended to pressure the movement’s leadership. The competing claims have not been independently reconciled.
JKHRO does not make a concluded finding of collective punishment. It calls for publication of ownership records, notices, demolition orders, operational records, comparative enforcement evidence and access to an effective remedy.
International action requested
JKHRO calls on governments, UN agencies, parliamentarians, diplomatic missions, international human-rights organisations and media institutions to:
· support an independent investigation into all potentially unlawful deaths and serious injuries;
· seek disclosure of casualty, detention, transfer, release and missing-person records;
· press for disclosure and dignified return of remains to families;
· request access for independent observers, journalists and human-rights monitors;
· seek review of anti-terrorism, preventive-detention and Fourth Schedule measures;
· support continuity of education for affected students;
· protect witnesses, families, journalists and human-rights defenders from reprisals;
· assist with forensic, medico-legal and digital evidence preservation; and
· encourage inclusive political dialogue addressing the underlying grievances.
The complete Human Rights Situation Report No. 5, including the 90-name fatality register, case studies, verification methodology, recommendations and supporting annexes, is available through the JKHRO Reports and Data page: