Key facts
- British national Mohammad Akhtar was killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on June 9.
- Akhtar's family claims Pakistani security forces fired on protesters, leading to his death by a stray bullet.
- Another British national, Waqas Arif, has been detained since June 5 without charge.
- The UK Foreign Office is in contact with Pakistani counterparts regarding the situation.
- Protests in the region are linked to demands for economic and electoral reforms.
A British national, Mohammad Akhtar, 50, from Peterborough, was killed on June 9 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after Pakistani security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters. His family stated he was not participating in the demonstrations but was hit by a stray bullet near his home in Kotli city.
Another British national, Waqas Arif, 38, from Nottingham, has been held in a prison in Mirpur for over two months without charge since being detained on June 5. His family believes he was taken because his brothers were involved in protests. Arif's wife, Varisha Kampulvi, has highlighted his case to British authorities, who have confirmed contact with prison officials but not directly with Arif.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has expressed deep concern over the situation and updated its travel advice to recommend against all but essential travel to affected areas. FCDO ministers and the UK high commissioner in Islamabad are reportedly in contact with their Pakistani counterparts. It is understood that a former Foreign Office minister, Hamish Falconer, raised the Kashmir situation during a visit to Islamabad in June, and the current minister, Stephen Doughty, has also engaged with Pakistani officials.
Islamabad has been accused of a violent crackdown on supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group that has organized protests demanding economic and electoral reforms. The JAAC has labeled the ongoing elections in the region, which began on July 27, as a "sham" and claims scores of its supporters have been detained. Pakistan declared the JAAC a terrorist organization and imposed a communications blackout in the region since June 5. The government has denied accusations of fatally shooting at least 30 people during demonstrations last month.