UN urges probe into deaths in Pakistani-administered Kashmir unrest

The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, has called for an independent investigation into deadly unrest in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, where at least 31 people have been killed since last month. The protests, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), initially formed against rising food prices and utility tariffs, but the current flashpoint is a legal dispute over legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees. The UN expressed alarm over Pakistan's decision to classify the JAAC as a terrorist organization, raising concerns about freedom of assembly.