Pakistan-occupied J&K is witnessing its biggest ever protest against the Pakistani state and authorities. Thousands of residents have taken to streets demanding the genuine fundamental rights and developmental prospects for the region, that’s been devoid for them since seven decades. The protest has been organized by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), and the organization has called on the people from all the districts of PoJK to protest against the atrocities of Pakistan government.
A leader from the ACC exclaimed, “They will only understand the language of shoes and not words”. The fierce statement reflects the extent of frustration and anger that the people of PoJK have towards Pakistan. The protests were unleashed in various regions of PoJK such as Mirpur, Kotli, Rawalakot, Neelum Valley, Keran and other places, marking the biggest ever protest in PoJK against Pakistan government.
“Our 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”, said one of the protestors. The escalating resentment and outrage by the people of PoJK against Pakistan, acts as a testament to the recent statements of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, where he said that in near future, PoJK will be a part of India not because of the military action by the Indian Armed Forces but as an impact of the aspirations of the people of PoJK who are apparently fed up with the kind of treatment received from the Pakistan government.
Recently the people of PoJK protested against the security officials and LeT terror leaders, who tried to attend the funeral of a terrorist who succumbed to death due to India’s military actions during Operation Sindoor. People protested against the terror leaders for hijacking and brain washing the young men of the village and utilizing them to fulfil the selfish terror goals. This shows PoJK is gradually being disoriented and fractured from Pakistan as they suffer from terror atrocities, human rights violations and denial of fundamental rights or developmental measures.
“Shutter down wheel-jam” strike and demands of ACC
The Awami Action Committee has declared the strikes as “Shutter down wheel-jam”. Meanwhile, the ACC has also presented a 38-point charter to the Pakistan government demanding various rights and developmental goals. If the government fails to fulfill these aspirations, the protestors have warned regarding further escalation of the strike.
The 38-point charter includes a demand for abolition of 122 seats in the PoJK assembly reserved for the Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. ACC believes that this representation will distort local aspirations and will render undue control for the Pakistan over the politics of PoJK. The other demand is local communities should benefit from the electricity generated at Mangla and Neelum-Jhelum dams, instead of channelizing it to other regions of the country. Reports claim that PoJK suffer from frequent power-cuts and miserable livelihood opportunities, despite massive amounts of hydro-electricity being produced from the sources in the region.
Demand is also to give adequate subsidies and protect against unfair inflation and cost of living crisis. Ultimately, the people of PoJK are also urging to protect the fundamental rights of the residents. They have also asserted that Pakistan has repeatedly assured to fulfill these demands, however they later debunk it. If the same false promise continues even this time, the people have threatened to continue the protest indefinitely.
Internet shutdown and government crackdown
The government in Islamabad instead of heeding to the demands of the people in PoJK, has apparently decided to suppress the protest, which is deemed as the largest civilian mobilization and grassroot level protest in the region since the illegal annexation of PoJK from India. Government of Pakistan has deployed thousands of security forces including police personnel and paramilitary forces deployed from the Punjab province.
Internet has been shutdown, which the protestors deem as a measure to thwart digital mobilization and spread of the message. Despite such intense crackdown, the people of PoJK seem to be resolved and committed towards their goal. As per the sources the diaspora community belonging to PoJK in United Kingdom, United States and other parts of Europe are said to champion the cause of the protest through their digital platforms. Sources also analyze that any repressive action by Islamabad, could trigger back and the people of PoJK could materialize themselves at an even larger scale to protest against the government.
The latest eruption of the frustrated people of PoJK is a testament to the spiking political instability in Pakistan. From Balochistan to the Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan is politically, socially and economically disoriented from within, while their leaders build fake narratives and false claims abroad.
