PoJK Horror: 5 Family Members Killed in Rocket Attack; Activist Pleads for Global Help
Human rights activist Amjad Ayub Mirza urges UN and India to intervene after a rocket attack killed five family members in PoJK.
A wave of shock and outrage has gripped the international community following reports of a brutal attack in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), where five members of a single family, including three young children, were reportedly killed. Amjad Ayub Mirza, a prominent human rights activist and Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Tehreek-e-Ittifaq-e-Rai, has issued a scathing condemnation of the incident, calling upon the United Nations, the Government of India, and global powers to intervene immediately to stop the escalating violence against civilians.
A Family Wiped Out in a Single Strike
The tragedy unfolded when an explosive projectile—reported to be either a grenade or a rocket—struck a residential home. The victims of this devastating attack include three children: 15-year-old Anika, 12-year-old Harris, and 8-year-old Malaika. They were killed alongside their mother, Shazia, and their grandmother, Naseba.
According to a press statement released by Mirza from Glasgow, Scotland, on October 30, local sources suggest that a Belarusian-developed MM-60 rocket-propelled grenade launcher may have been used in the attack. However, Mirza clarified that the specific weapon, the exact circumstances, and the identity of the perpetrators have not yet been independently verified.
Alarms Over Systematic Violence
The killing of the family is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of unrest. Mirza highlighted alarming claims made by senior members of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), including Umer Nazir Kashmiri, Mujtaba Farooqi, and Imtiaz Aslam. These leaders allege a grim toll of violence since June 5, claiming that:
- Over 100 young people have been killed.
- Hundreds of others have sustained injuries.
- Thousands of individuals have been arrested or detained.
The JAAC has reportedly been campaigning for three and a half years, utilizing peaceful means to demand democratic rights, economic stability, and fundamental human rights. In their quest for justice, the committee has reached out to the UN and various governments, including those of the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Türkiye.
Military Siege and Humanitarian Crisis
The situation on the ground is described as increasingly suffocating. Allegations have surfaced that Pakistani military and paramilitary Rangers personnel have effectively besieged parts of PoJK. Reports indicate that key entry points have been occupied, barricades erected, and civilian movement severely restricted.
Beyond the physical restrictions, there are grave concerns regarding survival. It is alleged that the supply of essential medicines and food has been obstructed, leaving the population struggling for basic necessities. Furthermore, reports of drones operating over the Bagh and Poonch regions and sniper fire targeting peaceful protesters have added to the climate of fear.
A Call for Global Accountability
Amjad Ayub Mirza has emphasized that the deaths of these five family members must not be dismissed as mere "conflict statistics." He is demanding a comprehensive and independent international investigation to ensure accountability.
His urgent appeal to the UN human rights mechanisms, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation includes demands for:
- The immediate protection of peaceful protesters.
- Unrestricted humanitarian access to affected areas.
- The release of all arbitrarily detained persons and the disclosure of their current locations.
- Independent verification of the use of military-grade weapons in civilian zones.
Mirza warned that if the international community fails to address these allegations, the region faces a deepening humanitarian crisis and a continued rise in civilian casualties.