Mohammad Akhtar, 50, from Peterborough dies after being hit by stray bullet in Kotli amid clashes over electoral and economic reforms.
A British national has been killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after being struck by gunfire from Pakistani security forces during clashes with protesters, according to family accounts and reports that emerged this week.
Mohammad Akhtar, 50, a resident of Peterborough in the United Kingdom, died on 9 June in the city of Kotli. His family said he was hit by a stray bullet fired by security forces while staying near his house, close to where demonstrations were taking place. Akhtar was not participating in the protests, relatives insisted.
“He wasn’t taking part in protests but the demonstrations were happening close to his house,” said his cousin Mohammad Saad. “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 family said they were unable to register a police complaint in the region and chose not to pursue the matter with British authorities, citing fears of possible reprisals.
Kashmir Unrest: British National Detained, UK Raises Concerns:
The incident occurred amid weeks of unrest linked to the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a group that organised protests demanding economic relief and changes to the electoral system in the territory. Authorities later declared the JAAC a banned organisation and imposed communications restrictions in parts of the region.
According to rights groups and local reports, the broader violence surrounding the protests and subsequent elections has left at least 34 civilians and six security personnel dead. Amnesty International and other monitors have documented the toll, while Pakistani officials have rejected claims of excessive force and blamed protesters for the unrest.
A second British national, Waqas Arif, 38, from Nottingham, has been held in a prison in Mirpur for more than two months. His family maintains he was not involved in any demonstrations and has sought help from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to secure his release. He has not been formally charged or produced in court, according to relatives.
The UK government has expressed concern over the situation. The FCDO said it had raised the matter directly with Pakistani authorities and updated its travel advice for the region.
British Deaths Fuel Kashmir Tensions:
Pakistan-administered Kashmir, also known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, is a semi-autonomous territory claimed by both Pakistan and India. The disputed region has long been a flashpoint between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Protests this year focused on issues including the reservation of legislative seats for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, rising living costs and demands for greater local representation.
Regional legislative elections concluded on Monday despite a boycott called by protest organisers. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured a majority.
The deaths of British citizens with family ties to the territory have drawn attention from the Kashmiri diaspora in the United Kingdom, where demonstrations have been held outside Pakistani diplomatic missions. British MPs have also written to the government urging closer scrutiny of the human rights situation.
No independent investigation into Akhtar’s death has been announced, and Pakistani authorities have not issued a detailed public statement specifically addressing the British national’s killing. Security forces maintain they acted to restore order during what they described as unlawful gatherings that threatened public safety. The case highlights how local political tensions in the disputed Himalayan region continue to affect communities with transnational family links, even as elections have formally concluded.