Deadly protests over refugee seats delay Pakistan-administered Kashmir elections

Protests erupted in the capital on Monday after the parliament approved a controversial allocation of legislative seats for recent refugee arrivals, a move opponents said would dilute native representation. Demonstrators clashed with security forces in several districts, and officials confirmed that at least twelve people were killed and dozens more injured as police used tear‑gas and live ammunition to disperse the crowds. The unrest prompted the government to impose a nationwide internet shutdown, citing concerns over the spread of misinformation, while the electoral commission announced that the scheduled national elections would be postponed and conducted in a staggered format over the next three months to ensure security and logistical readiness.

Opposition parties and civil‑society groups have called for a boycott of the rescheduled vote, arguing that the refugee‑seat legislation undermines democratic principles and that the blackout hampers transparent monitoring of the electoral process. International observers expressed concern over the escalating violence and the lack of open communication channels, urging authorities to restore internet access and guarantee that the staggered elections proceed in a free and fair manner. The government maintains that the measures are temporary and necessary to restore order, but the combined effect of the protests, fatalities, and boycott calls has cast uncertainty over the country’s political stability ahead of the upcoming polls.