MUZAFFARABAD: The anti-government protest movement that had remained largely centred in Rawalakot and adjoining areas for the past several weeks spread to the capital Muzaffarabad on Friday, leaving at least two more people dead.
It marks a significant escalation in what has become one of the most serious political crises in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
Fresh demonstrations erupted across capital Muzaffarabad after Friday prayers as supporters of the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) took to the streets in Lower Plate, Chahla Bandi, Upper Adda, Gujara, Kahori and several other localities.
Protesters burned tyres, erected barricades and blocked major roads, while election banners and posters of political parties were set ablaze at several places.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowds, leading to clashes that continued for several hours.
One man, identified as Moeez, was killed during the violence.
The district administration described him as a passer-by caught in the unrest. JAAC leaders, however, alleged that he was one of their activists who died after police firing. The organisation also claimed that three of its workers were injured in police shelling.
Police said two of their personnel were injured after being attacked by protesters.
Thousands attended Moeez's funeral prayers in Muzaffarabad's Lower Plate locality on Friday evening, according to local journalists.
Fresh violence was also reported from Rawalakot, the epicentre of the movement over the past several weeks.
Local sources said Shafqat Hussain, a young man from Bhimber district who had travelled with participants of the long march, was shot dead shortly after Friday prayers while leaving a mosque. The circumstances surrounding the shooting could not be independently verified, and officials had not issued a detailed account by the time of filing this report.
The unrest spread to several other districts, including Kotli, Khoi Ratta, Nikyal, Sehnsa and parts of Neelum Valley, where protesters blocked the Neelum Highway near Kundal Shahi. Residents in Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and adjoining areas also reported disruptions to mobile internet, Wi-Fi and some communication services.
The latest violence comes after weeks of protests over governance and economic issues that have steadily widened despite an official crackdown. Authorities declared the Joint Awami Action Committee a banned organisation earlier this week and arrested several of its leaders, moves that protest organisers say have further inflamed public anger. Government officials maintain that the measures were necessary to restore law and order.
The crisis has also cast a shadow over the ongoing Legislative Assembly elections, which are being held in phases across the region under unprecedented security arrangements following weeks of unrest and violence.
In a statement issued on Friday, police accused the banned JAAC of attempting to disrupt the electoral process through road blockades and attacks on public property. Officials said security forces acted to restore order and ensure that the democratic process could continue peacefully.
District authorities in Rawalakot separately appealed for calm through mosque announcements, urging residents not to carry weapons, advising people to seek medical treatment without fear and asking educational institutions to remain open. Officials said political grievances should be pursued through peaceful and constitutional means.
Solidarity demonstrations were also held in several Pakistani cities.
In Karachi, protesters gathered outside the Press Club, causing traffic disruptions on nearby roads. In Lahore, the Progressive Students Collective claimed several of its members were detained while protesting in support of the movement before being released later. Police in Lahore did not immediately comment on the claim.
Adding a new dimension to the political confrontation, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, speaking at a press conference in Rawalpindi on Friday, accused India of attempting to foment instability in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. He said Pakistan viewed Kashmir as its "jugular vein" and alleged that external forces were seeking to exploit the current unrest. India has consistently rejected similar allegations in the past.
A video of police firing in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, 31 July 2026, shared on Z by @Ajk_Updates.
Commander Farooq's Death
Friday's developments were further overshadowed by the death of Commander Sardar Muhammad Farooq Khan, an 85-year-old veteran activist whose supporters regard him as one of the most recognisable faces of the current movement.
Commander Farooq had suffered gunshot injuries during the July 28 clashes linked to the long march. After receiving initial treatment, he was shifted to Rawalpindi, where he died on Friday. Thousands attended his funeral in his native village of Mang.
A former member of Pakistan Army's elite Special Services Group (SSG), Commander Farooq reportedly served for nearly 25 years and was part of the security detail assigned to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during the 1974 Islamic Summit in Lahore.
After retiring from military service, he joined the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and remained active in Kashmiri politics for decades.
Despite his advanced age, he regularly participated in the recent protest movement, often marching alongside younger activists. Supporters described him as a source of inspiration whose presence symbolised continuity between earlier phases of the Kashmiri political movement and the present campaign.
With protests now spreading from Rawalakot to the capital and other districts, political observers say the crisis has entered a new and potentially more volatile phase. While the government insists that restoring public order and completing the electoral process remain its immediate priorities, protest leaders have vowed to continue their campaign until their demands are addressed.
Whether the elections help ease tensions or further deepen the political divide is likely to become clear in the coming days.
A video of the last rites of Commander Farooq Khan shared on X by @Ajk_Updates on Friday, 31 July 2026.
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