PoK Shuts Down in Protest Against Pakistan Government

Digital Desk

Widespread anger in PoK leads to closed shops, blocked roads, and internet shutdowns as citizens protest against government neglect and rising inflation.

The Awami Action Committee (AAC) held protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), affecting several areas. The people of PoK are angry with the Pakistani government and are raising their voices against political discrimination and economic neglect. The AAC has proposed 38 demands, including the abolition of reservations for Kashmiri refugees.

Large-scale protests are taking place in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Awami Action Committee (AAC) launched an attack in several areas of PoK on Monday. Several places organized shutdowns and road blockades.

The protests in PoK are being attributed to anger against Pakistan. To control the situation, Islamabad has deployed a large number of security forces in PoK. Internet connectivity has been disrupted in the affected areas.

38-Point Demand
The AAC is a civil society organization that has been demanding reforms in PoK for quite some time. PoK has been facing political discrimination and economic neglect for decades. The AAC has now raised its voice against this. The AAC has placed 38 demands before the Pakistan government.

What are the people's demands?
Twelve seats in the PoK Assembly are reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. The AAC has demanded the abolition of this provision. Furthermore, demands are being raised for subsidies, fair prices for electricity generated from the Mangla Hydropower Project, and the fulfillment of Islamabad's past promises.

According to AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir,

Our campaign is not against any institution. However, for the past 70 years, the people of PoK have been denied fundamental rights. Enough is enough. Either give us our rights or face the public's anger.

Pakistani government sends army
The Pakistan government is using force to suppress the ongoing protests in PoK. Thousands of people are marching on the streets of PoK, and police have been sent from Punjab to stop them. On Saturday and Sunday, police sealed several entry and exit points into PoK.

13-Hour Talks Fail
The Pakistani government dispatched a team of approximately 1,000 security forces from Islamabad to PoK. Meanwhile, talks were also underway with the AAC. After a 13-hour meeting, these talks failed. Pakistan flatly refused to end the reservations for Kashmiri refugees.