Neelum Valley: In Pakistan-administered Kashmir’s Neelum Valley, a local court on Monday remanded a journalist and two social media activists into police custody for nine days after their arrest for opposing alleged arms training provided to female students at a government college by the military.
The arrests have triggered widespread protests. On Monday, demonstrations were held in the Bantal Chowk area of Athmuqam, the district headquarters of Neelum Valley. Local journalists and civil society members participated in the protests, demanding the immediate release of the detained individuals. Protesters warned that if their demands were not met, the scope of the protests would be expanded.
Similarly, on Tuesday, journalists in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, staged a demonstration outside the Press Club, chanting slogans in solidarity with the detained activists and calling for their release.
The detainees, identified as local journalist Hayat Awan and social media activists Wasi Khawaja and Azhar Mughal, were accused of posting objectionable content on social media against the reported military training of government college students in the use of weapons.
Speaking at the Athmuqam protest, Neelum Press Club President Javed Asadullah condemned the arrests, stating that the press club had been attacked by masked individuals last week when female students had arrived there to hold a press conference. He added that the press club had formally filed a complaint with the police, but no action was taken against the attackers. Instead, journalists were arrested based on a complaint filed by the principal of the girls’ college, which he said was against the principles of justice.
The protests continue to grow as journalists and civil society members demand transparency, justice, and the immediate release of the detainees.
