The Pakistani security forces have advertently opened fire on the protestors in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, leading to the death of two people and several others injured. Islamabad has also launched a massive crackdown on the protestors that has brought life and livelihood to a full-scale disruption in PoJK. Markets have been completely shut down, internet and phone services have been suspended. These brutal measure by the authorities exhibit the fact that how Pakistani government is mercilessly seeking to subjugate the voices of the civilians in PoJK.
The protests has been called by the Awami Action Committee(AAC) and the people are demanding their genuine fundamental rights and other developmental prospects that the region is denied since seven decades, when Pakistan illegally occupied the region of Jammu & Kashmir. PoJK suffers from lack of basic infrastructure such as electricity, transportation, employment opportunities etc. Moreover, the innocent youth of the region are radicalized and brainwashed by the terror organizations, who hijack the young men to fulfill their illicit terror motives.
Inhuman firing, road blocks and internet shutdown
The people of PoJK have voluntarily shut the shops, business centres and other public places in support and solidarity for the protestors. The AAC and its leaders have also warned the government that any violent action and forceful crackdown will be answered with same intensity and will be met with force itself. People from all the districts of PoJK have hit the streets and are raising slogans against the Pakistani government. The protestors have called the government and authorities as “incompetent and repressive”.
Images and videos emanating from PoJK also show that Pakistani security officials are unleashing fire on the peaceful protestors, thus injuring many. Internet and mobile services have also been suspended consecutively for the second day, thus trying to isolate the protestors and their genuine demands from rest of the world. Pakistani authorities are resorting to suspension of the internet services, clearly to derail the momentum and wide support base for the protestors.
In the intense crackdown the Pakistan government has even blocked key roadways and other connectivity means, thus making the life miserable for diseased patients and other emergency cases. In Muzaffarabad, police firing led to several injuries and deaths. These brutal measures by Pakistan have apparently not derailed the protest but has only intensified it with increasing public frustration and outrage against the autocratic regime of Pakistan. People also claim that they were threatened and intimidated, however, their resolve, determination and firmness to fight against the atrocities of Pakistani government stands still. Civilians of PoJK also claim that the Muslim Conference, a rival grouping fired on peaceful and unarmed protestors.
Demonstrators further assert that despite lockdown and severe repression the protest has reached major district headquarters and people have been committed to intensify it further, until their demands are addressed.
Global media goes blind and silent
Amidst all the chaos and atrocities ongoing on the civilians of Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, one subject matter that has to be analyzed with keen observation is that the global media goes blind and silent towards the atrocities of the Pakistani authorities in PoJK. However, if we look back at the history of these media houses, who apparently crow regarding having utmost concerns towards the human rights violations in various parts of the world including India, are always silent when it comes to Pakistan.
International and globally reputed media houses deliberately silence themselves regarding the repeated and intense human rights violations in Pakistan. Be it Balochistan or the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or the PoJK, there silence reflects a well-calculated and orchestrated strategy. A single gunshot or even a natural calamity in India’s Kashmir, these global media with the self-proclaimed tag of being a protector of human rights screams against India. These media houses also flood the internet with false claims and fake videos accusing India.
But, when it is Pakistan they maintain absolute silence and turn completely blind. Such actions truly expose the hypocrisy of the global media. It also raises serious questions regarding why the globally reputed big media houses back a rogue state called as Pakistan that is suffering from economic crisis, political instability and most importantly a country that is a safe-haven for the terrorists.
