Clashes in PoK: Protest turns violent as 11 killed in clashes between protesters, police

At least 11 people were killed and more than 70 injured in clashes between police and members of a banned protest group in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), officials said on Monday.

Those killed included seven civilians and four police offcers, Reuters reported.

"Four police officers and a passer-by died after miscreants shot at them. As the result of the law enforcers' response, six protesters were killed," Sardar Waheed Khan, the regional commissioner, said.

According to police chief Liaqat Malik, 23 security officials and 50 protesters were among the injured in Sunday's incident that preceded Monday's violence, with 30 offenders arrested.

The protest was called by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to protest the reservation of 12 seats for refugees in ⁠July 27 elections to the region's legislative body, out of 45 up for grabs.

The group is demanding abolition of the reserved seats in PoK's legislative assembly. The elections will be contested by candidates ⁠who do not live in the region, but elsewhere in Pakistan.

On June 5, authorities designated the JAAC a proscribed group under an anti-terror law, and advised domestic and foreign tourists to leave ⁠the region before June 9.

Mass demonstrations in the last two years led by the JAAC to protest the rising costs of flour and electricity turned deadly after clashes between its supporters and the security forces.