Following India’s recent “Operation Sindoor”, Pakistan has intensified its crackdown in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB). These regions, under illegal occupation since 1947, are witnessing increased suppression of dissent.
Pakistan Tightens Grip After Protests in PoJK
Kashmir activist Javed Beigh shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Pakistan is further tightening control in PoJK, particularly after last year’s anti-government protests, which led to the deaths of nearly two dozen civilians. For the first time since 1947, Pakistan had to deploy paramilitary forces in PoJK to curb unrest.
Kashmiri Doctor Barred from Leaving Pakistan
In a troubling incident, a young Kashmiri Muslim physician, Dr. Syed Rehan Touqeer, from Kotli district in PoJK, was forcibly taken off a flight to the US and prevented from leaving Pakistan.
Dr. Rehan, who belongs to the Potohari Pahari-speaking community, had secured a valid US immigrant visa and was traveling to reunite with his family. However, on June 4, at Islamabad International Airport, officials pulled him off an Etihad Airways flight just before take-off.
Placed on Exit Control Without Notice
According to reports, Rehan was told he was placed on Pakistan’s Provisional National Identification List (PNIL)—a no-exit list—without prior judicial orders, warnings, or explanation. This sudden move shocked the doctor, who had cleared all immigration checks.
Authorities alleged his name was linked to a First Information Report (FIR) filed in November 2024 in Kotli, but evidence shows he was working in Lahore at that time. His name wasn’t listed in the FIR either, as per civil society claims.
Human Rights Violations Condemned
PoJK civil society has strongly condemned this incident, calling it a blatant violation of both constitutional guarantees and international human rights laws. Activists argue that preventing a qualified medical professional from leaving the country without due process sets a dangerous precedent. Javed Beigh emphasized that Dr. Rehan’s case reflects a disturbing pattern of authoritarian overreach, collective punishment, and the silencing of voices that challenge the status quo. He added that such actions undermine the rule of law and reflect the Pakistani state’s growing insecurity in its hold over PoJK and PoGB. Rights groups have also urged international organizations to take note of the increasing suppression and arbitrary detentions in these occupied territories.
