Pakistan-Administered Kashmir Votes Amid Deadly Protests and Internet Shutdown

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan — Polling stations opened in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, on Sunday under heavy security, marking the second phase of a three-stage legislative election overshadowed by weeks of violent protests, an internet blackout, and a death toll that has surpassed 50.

The city had already witnessed two days of shutdowns and empty streets before voting began. Markets, banks, and petrol stations had been closed since Friday, and public transport was suspended as deadly protests spread, according to Al Jazeera.

Protests and Crackdown

The unrest dates back to June 5, when authorities banned the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a local pressure group, for holding demonstrations over rising prices and governance. The JAAC protests soon evolved into a campaign demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the regional Legislative Assembly reserved for displaced Kashmiris living elsewhere in Pakistan, the outlet reported.

As the protests intensified, Pakistani authorities launched a crackdown on JAAC leaders. Weeks of marches, negotiations, and crackdowns forced the Election Commission to split the voting into three phases. The Mirpur division voted on July 27, followed by the Muzaffarabad division and the 12 refugee constituencies on Sunday. The Poonch division — the JAAC's stronghold and the site of its deadliest clashes with authorities — is to vote last on August 10.

Death Toll and Security Measures

Dozens of people have been killed in the run-up to the vote. Al Jazeera reports that the death toll has surpassed 50, including at least seven law enforcement personnel. The JAAC claimed more than 60 civilians have been killed since June, though that figure has not been independently verified.

Authorities have imposed an unofficial state of emergency by suspending mobile and internet services across most of the territory. An intermittent internet shutdown stretching beyond 50 days has disrupted campaigning and made reporting from the region increasingly difficult.

About 3.8 million residents in the Pakistan-administered portion of the disputed Himalayan region are eligible to vote in an election widely seen as a test of security after weeks of clashes between police and protesters.

Candidates Struggle with Blackout

Independent candidate Malik Alauddin told the AFP news agency that the internet shutdown created serious difficulties for political candidates and the electoral process itself. “Reaching voters has become much harder,” he said, adding that he adopted a campaign style favoured by pre-internet generations, focusing on gatherings in remote villages and going door to door to potential voters' homes. “This is a vast mountainous constituency. If the internet is cut, you have to rely on old-fashioned methods,” he said.

Witnesses said turnout in Mirpur district, the first area to vote, appeared low in the summer heat. Some candidates complained that internet restrictions imposed during the protests and ensuing clashes had hampered their campaigns.

Perspectives

Government and Election Commission: Authorities have framed the security measures — including the internet shutdown, heavy paramilitary deployment, and the phased voting schedule — as necessary to maintain order and ensure the election can proceed amid the unrest. The Election Commission cited concerns over stretched security personnel as the reason for splitting the vote into three phases.

JAAC and Protesters: The banned group and its supporters view the crackdown as an attempt to stifle legitimate grievances over rising prices, governance, and the reserved seats for displaced Kashmiris. They have continued to demand electoral reform and the abolition of those seats, with protests escalating into deadly clashes.

Candidates and Residents: Political candidates and local residents have expressed frustration over the internet shutdown, which has severely hampered campaigning and daily life. Many see the election as a test of whether stability can be restored in the region, but the low turnout in early voting and the ongoing unrest suggest deep uncertainty.