{"id":5663,"date":"2026-07-27T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T14:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=5663"},"modified":"2026-07-27T14:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T14:15:00","slug":"pok-protests-thousands-march-to-muzaffarabad-after-failed-talks-polls-delayed-in-two-districts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=5663","title":{"rendered":"PoK protests: Thousands march to Muzaffarabad after failed talks; polls delayed in two districts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-132663317,imgsize-1097929,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/protest.jpg\" alt=\"PoK protests: Thousands march to Muzaffarabad after failed talks; polls delayed in two districts\" title=\"Thousands march to Muzaffarabad after failed talks; polls delayed in two districts\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Thousands march to Muzaffarabad after failed talks; polls delayed in two districts\">Thousands march to Muzaffarabad after failed talks; polls delayed in two districts<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) intensified on Monday as thousands of demonstrators began marching towards Muzaffarabad after negotiations between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the authorities broke down, while election officials postponed legislative assembly polls in two districts amid the unrest.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>The Election Commission deferred voting in the Sudhnoti and Rawalakot constituencies until August 10, citing an ongoing sit-in led by the Public Action Committee (PAC). <span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/>The postponement comes as a weeks-long protest movement continues to disrupt public life and cast uncertainty over the electoral process.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>Talks collapse, protesters hit the streets<br \/><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"8\"\/>The latest escalation followed the collapse of talks between JAAC leaders and the government on Saturday. <!-- -->Protest organisers alleged that authorities refused to release detained activists, withdraw criminal cases against protesters or agree to the committee&#8217;s core demands.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/>After the negotiations failed, JAAC issued an ultimatum, asking the government to formally notify acceptance of its demands by 1pm on July 27. It warned that if no action was taken, thousands of supporters would march from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad \u2014 a call that was subsequently carried out.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>The demonstrations mark the latest phase of a protest campaign that has entered its 52nd day.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h3>Elections overshadowed by unrest<br \/><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>The political crisis unfolded alongside the first phase of polling in 13 constituencies of the Mirpur division. However, political parties said the prolonged demonstrations had severely affected electioneering across the region.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>Campaign rallies, public meetings and door-to-door outreach have reportedly been disrupted by strikes and sit-ins, while candidates have expressed uncertainty over voter participation if the protests continue.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"27\"\/>Residents told local media that public interest in the elections had sharply declined, with many believing that longstanding grievances and basic rights should be addressed before any electoral exercise. According to several residents, enthusiasm for the polls is &#8220;almost non-existent,&#8221; with the protest movement taking precedence over electoral politics.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>The ongoing agitation follows weeks of growing tensions in the region. <!-- -->On June 30, the JAAC criticised Pakistani authorities after an opposition delegation was reportedly prevented from entering PoK, calling it another example of restrictions on democratic rights and political dissent.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/>The committee also alleged that authorities had obstructed food supplies and curtailed access to the region, claims it said reflected the government&#8217;s approach towards the people of PoK.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>Meanwhile, Amnesty International has criticised Pakistan&#8217;s handling of the situation ahead of the regional elections, accusing the authorities of using heavy-handed measures to suppress peaceful political dissent and violate fundamental human rights.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"38\"\/><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/world\/pakistan\/pok-protests-thousands-march-to-muzaffarabad-after-failed-talks-polls-delayed-in-two-districts\/articleshow\/132662765.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thousands march to Muzaffarabad after failed talks; polls delayed in two districts Protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) intensified on Monday as thousands of demonstrators began marching towards Muzaffarabad after negotiations between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the authorities broke down, while election officials postponed legislative assembly polls in two districts amid the unrest.The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Thousands march to Muzaffarabad after failed talks; polls delayed in two districts Protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) intensified on Monday as thousands of demonstrators began marching towards Muzaffarabad after negotiations between the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the authorities broke down, while election officials postponed legislative assembly polls in two districts amid the unrest.The [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1785161701_protest.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5663"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5663\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}