United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an impartial inquiry into the killings of protesters in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said that there must be accountability if peaceful protesters were harmed. Earlier, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into all deaths during the unrest, involving both protesters and security forces.

This call came amid widespread protests over alleged election irregularities in PoJK. Reportedly, around 50 protesters have been killed during recent demonstrations led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The committee is protesting Pakistan’s decision to reserve seats for outsiders in elections to the local legislature. The Security Council Resolution 40 from 1948 demands that Pakistan withdraw its forces and citizens from the area it occupies.