“Movement is for basic rights”: UKPNP leader on PoJK protests, slams ‘puppet govt’
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Protests rage on in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as locals demand basic rights amid deadly clashes. Just days after security forces killed three people in confrontations, demonstrators have shut down the region in a show of unity that’s hard to ignore.
Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, chairman of the United Kashmir People National Party (UKPNP), told reporters in Geneva that this movement for fundamental rights has been building for two years. “People in PoJK have gone without proper rights for 77 years,” he explained. Political groups and everyday folks came together to form the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has led the charge against issues like constant electricity shortages, high unemployment, the elite’s extravagant lives, and tight constitutional limits.
Kashmiri blasted the local government, calling it a “puppet regime” that ignores valid demands. He said officials have promised quick fixes many times but always stall, claiming they lack power. Now, with a deadline of September 29 passed unmet, protesters have launched a full lockdown across PoJK. They’re closing all entry points from Pakistan and keeping millions—kids, women, and men—on the streets. “Social media has woken people up,” Kashmiri added. “The rulers’ tricks to divide us have flopped, and we won’t stop until we get our political, social, and basic rights back.”
Jamil Maqsood, president of UKPNP’s Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the violence against peaceful crowds. He called the situation heartbreaking, pointing fingers at Pakistan’s “deep state” for using stooges to fire modern weapons at demonstrators in Muzaffarabad and nearby areas. The attack left three young men dead and many more injured. “We reject this intimidation tactic outright,” Maqsood said. Protesters just want core human rights, like control over their own resources and better governance.
The unrest shows no signs of easing—it’s the second straight day of mass protests and a total shutdown. In places like Mirpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad, JAAC has rallied huge crowds in a rare display of solidarity against government delays on their key demands. Marchers trying to reach Muzaffarabad face big hurdles: authorities have blocked major roads, cut communications, and even cleared bridges with security forces.
Things boiled over in Dudyal, Mirpur, where activists refused to bury a protester’s body until officials give in. And in Muzaffarabad, police firing into a rally killed three and wounded over 22, only fueling the fire. This tragedy has united even more people, turning frustration into a stronger push for change in PoJK.
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