Nine killed in clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir; planned protest march stalls

At least nine people were killed in clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday, as a planned protest march to the regional capital Muzaffarabad stalled amid escalating tensions.

According to officials, security forces raided a house on the outskirts of Rawalakot town in Poonch district after receiving a tip about a weapons cache. The raiding party came under fire, and one officer was killed. In a separate incident in Sudhnoti district, protesters blocked a security convoy, which officials said was pelted with stones and fired upon. Seven protesters and a police officer were killed. Police have stated that security personnel acted in self-defense.

The deadly unrest has periodically rocked the region since the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), the group leading the protest movement, was banned under anti-terrorism laws on June 5.

On Wednesday evening, protesters gathered under the JAAC umbrella were still in Rawalakot, despite announcing they would set off at 2pm that day. The government has severely restricted internet and phone access in the region, making it difficult to reach protesters directly.

Munir Qureshi, deputy commissioner of Muzaffarabad, said the situation in the capital and surrounding areas was calm. "Muzaffarabad and its adjoining areas are all clear, and there is no disturbance to public life," he told Al Jazeera. "Internet access is limited due to the security situation, but otherwise the situation is normal."

Liaqat Ali Malik, inspector general of police for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), estimated the crowd in Rawalakot at between 3,000 and 4,000 people. He said there had been no violence on Wednesday.

The current unrest stems from a long-running dispute over political representation. At the heart of the issue are 12 seats in the region's legislature reserved for Kashmiri refugees who migrated to Pakistan after 1947 and now live outside the region. The JAAC argues that the arrangement allows Pakistan-based political parties to influence the government of Pakistan-administered Kashmir while diverting development funds meant for the region.

Last month, the region's Supreme Court ruled that the seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment, a decision that hardened the group's protest campaign.

Elections in the region are scheduled for July 27. Since protests began on June 4, at least 28 people have been killed and 79 injured, according to officials. Authorities said about 4,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across the region ahead of the planned march. Khurram Khan, the Poonch commissioner, said marchers would not be allowed to pass through Rawalakot and would instead have to use mountain trails to reach Muzaffarabad.