India, Sept. 23 -- Human rights activist Tasleema Akhter flagged the crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), while also highlighting the contrast in governance, civic space and human rights in the region with Jammu and Kashmir.

While urging a halt to killings of innocent civilians in PoK during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Akhter further called for protective measures in the region.

"The ongoing killing of innocent civilians by Pakistani security forces in PoJK needs to be stopped at once with immediate protective measures," news agency ANI cited the activist as saying.

Akhter also demanded independent investigations into the reported deaths in PoK. "There should be indepen...