Abhinand New Delhi: Protests against the Pakistani government in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) continued for the third consecutive day, wi...
Abhinand
New Delhi: Protests against the Pakistani government in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) continued for the third consecutive day, with clashes escalating. So far, 15 people have been killed—12 civilians and 3 police officers—in security force firing, with over 200 people reported injured. Casualties were reported in Dheerkot, Muzaffarabad, and Dadyal. Security forces also used tear gas against the protesters.
The protests, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee since September 29, are against the "denial of fundamental rights." The committee has put forward 38 demands, including the abolition of 12 seats reserved in the PoK Assembly for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan.
In response to the unrest, authorities have banned mobile, internet, and landline services across PoK, and shops and businesses remain closed. Additional security teams have been dispatched from Punjab and Islamabad to contain the situation.
Demonstrators now criticizing the military led by Field Marshal Asim Munir. The protesters are reportedly comparing the Pakistani government and army to a "witch bent on killing people."
Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a leader of the Awami Action Committee, stated: "Our struggle is not against one individual but against the entire system." He vowed that the struggle would continue until the last breath and that the people of PoK would no longer succumb to pressure.
The protests, which began two years ago to ensure regular and subsidized supply of flour and electricity, have expanded to include demands such as cutting privileges for the Kashmiri elite, abolishing reserved assembly seats, and providing free education and healthcare. The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) claims the latest wave of protests is due to the government's failure to fully implement an agreement made two years ago.
The 38-point list of demands includes ending the 12 reserved seats for refugees and revoking the privileges of the elite.
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