PoK on edge as thousands protest against Shehbaz Sharif government
What's the story
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is witnessing massive protests, spearheaded by the Awami Action Committee (AAC). The group has called for a "shutter-down and wheel-jam" strike across the region. In response, Islamabad has deployed security forces and suspended internet services from midnight to prevent mobilization. The protest follows months of growing dissatisfaction among locals who feel sidelined by the local government. Businesses, markets, and transportation services are anticipated to close, potentially bringing daily life in the region to a halt.
Protest details
AAC's demands for basic rights
The AAC, a civil society alliance, has accused Islamabad of political marginalization and economic neglect. CNN-News18 reports that the demonstrations are the result of mounting public anger over a number of demands, including the removal of 12 Assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan and the renegotiation of hydropower agreements to ensure that communities directly benefit from electricity produced at the Mangla and Neelum-Jhelum dams.
Demands
'Enough is enough'
Other demands include subsidized flour and the linking of power tariffs to local generation rates to reduce energy costs for locals. Shaukat Nawaz Mir, an AAC leader, stressed their campaign is "not against any institution but for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years." "Enough is enough. Either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people," he said, addressing crowds in Muzaffarabad.
Escalating tensions
Pakistan deploys troops to quell protests
In anticipation of the protests, authorities have deployed heavily armed convoys and thousands of troops from Punjab. Islamabad has also sent an additional 1,000 police personnel to bolster local security forces. Warning against any disruption of public life, District Magistrate Mudasser Farooq stressed that "peace is the collective responsibility of citizens and the administration." The government's crackdown follows a breakdown in talks between AAC negotiators and the PoK administration over elite privileges and refugee assembly seats.
Security
Heavy police movement
In recent days, heavily armed convoys held flag marches through major PoK towns, while thousands of troops were brought in from Punjab. On Saturday and Sunday, police restricted entry and exit ports in key cities, and surveillance was increased around sensitive installations. The Shehbaz Sharif government fears that these protests could lead to demands for "Azadi" or freedom from Pakistan. Protests are also anticipated to be held by the PoK diaspora population in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe.