Pakistani content creators demand justice in Azad Kashmir
A wave of digital voices is rising from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and from across Pakistan as deeply disturbing reports emerge of violence following elections held in the region. Content creators, local witnesses and public figures have taken to social media to share footage, demand accountability and appeal for international attention as claims of civilian killings spread rapidly online.
The unrest followed elections in AJK, after which protests erupted amid allegations of election rigging. Demonstrators took to the streets demanding protection of their mandate, and the situation deteriorated sharply when clashes broke out between security forces and protesters. According to locals sharing updates on social media, heavy firing continued throughout the night and cellular services were shut down in parts of the region, limiting the flow of information. Reports from the ground claim that more than 200 people have been killed, though these figures have not been independently verified.
Among the most widely shared voices was young digital creator Laibaro Manak, who addressed her message directly to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “My video is for Bilawal Bhutto,” she said. “I asked him about the internet shutdown and the situation, and he responded that everything should be handled peacefully. But soon after the election, countless people died due to open firing by forces. You took votes and are celebrating your victory, but Kashmir is bleeding. My appeal is to stop the firing. Mothers are waiting for their sons, unaware that their children are being killed by direct gunfire.”
Another content creator broke down in tears while addressing the camera, describing scenes of chaos and death he had personally witnessed. He said that after watching his friends die, he stood before the camera and demanded that forces open fire on him too, a raw and anguished act of protest against what he described as indiscriminate killing of innocent people.
A third creator spoke directly to the camera from the site of what he described as a long march that was met with force. “Today we were doing a long march, and security forces opened direct fire on us. Countless people are injured, and many are dead. Cellular services are shut down, and they are committing genocide in Kashmir. I request international humanitarian organizations to take action against the oppressors and share this news as much as you can.”
Actress Mishi Khan was among the Pakistani public figures to raise her voice. “Please have mercy on the people of Azad Kashmir and Balochistan,” she wrote. “They are citizens of Pakistan who are being treated in the most inhumane manner just because they wanted their rights as citizens. This kind of treatment is so cruel. Have mercy on your own people.”
Content creator Anumta Imran also shared footage documenting the deaths, as a growing number of digital voices from within and outside AJK worked to bypass the communication blackout and ensure the situation reached a wider audience.
The voices emerging from AJK are not simply asking for sympathy. They are asking to be seen, heard and counted at a moment when the tools that might otherwise amplify their cries have been deliberately switched off.
