At least two people died and 22 others suffered injuries in fierce clashes that broke out during protests against Pakistan’s government in Muzaffarabad, the heart of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The violence erupted on Monday amid heated demands for basic rights from locals fed up with unmet promises.
Reports point to gangs backed by the Pakistan army and the ISI-supported Muslim Conference opening fire on demonstrators. Social media lit up with videos from Pakistani news channels showing total chaos on the streets. One clip captures a man shooting into the air as crowds of protesters, waving flags and chanting slogans, climb onto cars around him. Another video features a demonstrator holding up a fistful of spent bullet casings, highlighting the intensity of the confrontation.
The unrest stemmed from a widespread shutter-down and wheel-jam strike called by the Public Action Committee (PAC) in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Frustrations boiled over issues like economic hardships and political grievances, with the PAC pushing a 38-point charter of demands. Key calls include scrapping 12 reserved seats for refugees and ending special perks for the elite.
Across PoK, markets, shops, and transport hubs ground to a halt, leaving commercial areas in Muzaffarabad eerily quiet, according to Pakistan’s Samaa TV. Hotels stayed closed, schools saw empty classrooms as most students joined the boycott, and roads remained traffic-free. For the second straight day, internet, mobile services, and even landlines were cut off, leaving residents cut off from the world and amplifying the sense of isolation.
The PAC plans to hold a rally later Monday to keep the pressure on. But Pakistani authorities cracked down hard. Over the weekend, armed police and paramilitary forces rolled through flag marches in nearly every PoK district headquarters, as reported by Dawn newspaper. They beefed up security at city entrances, exits, and sensitive spots.
In a sign of escalating tensions, Islamabad’s police chief pledged to send 1,000 more personnel to PoK after orders from federal officials. This heavy security presence aims to quell the protests, but it has only fueled more anger among those seeking change in the region.
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