POK Protests turn into a Battlefield when Protesters Clash with the Army, and 12 Dead
The POK protests are escalating dramatically. Demonstrators clashed violently with Pakistani forces, resulting in at least 12 deaths among civilians. This is one of the most unrestful periods in recent years. The protests against government failures and military action have brought daily life to an end.
In Dadyal, protesters clashed violently with the Army during POK’s protests. Pakistani authorities responded to the rising movement by sending thousands more troops. The initial unrest in Muzaffarabad has spread to areas such as Rawalakot and the Neelum Valley. Five protesters were reported to have been killed in Muzaffarabad; five more in Dheerkot, and two in Dadyal. Over 200 people have been injured, including many with critical injuries. Three police officers were also reported to be killed.
The POK protests, led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (AAC), have paralysed this region. It is the failure of the government to meet 38 demands that has sparked the core of this agitation. The abolition of 12 POK Assembly seats that were reserved for Kashmiri Refugees living in Pakistan, significant tax reductions, and subsidies of essential items like flour and electric power are among these demands. The protesters also demand the completion of many long-overdue projects. POK’s extensive protests are a reflection of the deep frustrations among residents.
Markets, shops, local businesses and other establishments have been closed since the protests started on September 29. To control the situation, the authorities shut down all mobile, landline, and internet services in the affected area. Social media videos show that despite these actions, thousands of Muzaffarabad protesters are throwing rocks and dismantling shipping containers placed on bridges in order to block their march. POK protests are gaining momentum, as people voice their displeasure at what they call state-sanctioned excesses.
A spokesperson of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee stated that “The people in POK demand their basic rights.” It is unacceptable that the government violently responds to peaceful protests. This will only increase our determination. The POK protests won’t stop until we get our legitimate demands met.
Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee is a coalition consisting of political and civil rights groups located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The organisation advocates on behalf of residents, with a focus on economic development, political reform and the protection of their rights. It has played a leading role in the POK protests by mobilising support from the public for the charter it demands.
