British national shot dead by Pakistani forces in PoK

A British national, Mohammad Akhtar, was reportedly killed by Pakistani security forces during protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, while another British citizen, Waqas Arif, remains detained. Families allege excessive force and arbitrary arrests, as the UK government expressed concern over the situation

London: Pakistani security forces shot down a British national during the protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), according to media reports.

The deceased, 50-year-old Mohammad Akhtar, a resident of the UK’s Peterborough city, was killed on June 9 after Pakistani security forces opened fire on protesters gathered to demand economic and electoral reforms in PoK, British daily The Guardian reported, citing his family.

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Reports suggest that another British national has remained behind bars in a regional prison in PoK for more than two months despite the efforts by his family to secure his release through the intervention of the UK’s Foreign Office.

The previously unreported details highlight the impact of the clashes on British nationals with familial ties to the region, where the violence has killed dozens and posed one of the biggest challenges to Pakistani authorities in recent years.

Akhtar was staying in Kotli city in PoK, near the area where the clashes broke out. His family said he was hit by a stray bullet during firing by Pakistani forces. “He wasn’t taking part in protests, but the demonstrations were happening close to his house. There was firing by the forces that day, and he was hit by a stray bullet. There was a bullet wound on the side of his chest,” The Guardian quoted Mohammad Saad, Akhtar’s cousin, as saying.

Saad further said that Akhtar’s children chose not to take up the matter with British authorities. He added that they had been unable to file a police complaint in PoK and feared that drawing attention to the case could put the family at risk.

Additionally, 38-year-old British national Waqas Arif, from Nottingham, was detained in Mirpur city in PoK, following the June 5 protests, despite his family’s claim that he had not participated in the demonstrations.

“Waqas was not involved in any kind of protests. But since my other two brothers were involved and they went for the protests with everybody else, the Pakistani forces along with the Rangers came into my house, and they took my brothers away,” The Guardian quoted his sister Sumera as saying.

“There is no charge. He hasn’t done anything. This is my brother, but I think there are thousands of other brothers like him from everywhere who they have put in (prison) so they can minimise the protest power … they have not even been taken to court,” she said.

Meanwhile, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) expressed grave concern over the dire situation in PoK. “FCDO ministers and the UK high commissioner in Islamabad are in touch with their counterparts, and UK travel advice was updated on 7 August and continues to advise against all but essential travel to affected areas,” it stated.