Massive protests in PoK; Islamabad deploys additional security forces, cut internet services
PTC Web Desk: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is witnessing one of the largest demonstrations in recent history as the Awami Action Committee (AAC) launched widespread protests across the region on Monday. The AAC’s call for a “shutter-down and wheel-jam” strike, potentially indefinite, has escalated tensions, prompting Islamabad to deploy additional security forces and cut internet services from midnight to curb mobilisation.
Reasons behind the protests
The AAC, a growing civil society alliance, has mobilised thousands of people, citing decades of political neglect and economic marginalisation in PoK. At the heart of their 38-point charter are demands for structural reforms, including abolishing 12 legislative seats in the PoK assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which locals claim undermines representative governance; implementation of delayed reforms promised by Islamabad, fairer power tariffs tied to the Mangla hydropower project and subsidised flour and other basic necessities for citizens.
“Our campaign is not against any institution but for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years,” said Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a senior AAC leader, addressing crowds in Muzaffarabad. “Enough is enough. Either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people,” he added.
The authorities have responded with a show of force. Heavily armed convoys staged flag marches across major PoK towns, while thousands of troops were brought in from Punjab. The police sealed entry and exit points in key cities over the weekend, and surveillance was intensified around sensitive installations.
Islamabad has also dispatched an additional 1,000 police personnel to reinforce local forces. District Magistrate Mudasser Farooq was quoted by 'The Dawn' as saying, “Peace is the collective responsibility of citizens and the administration,” warning against disruptions to public life.
The security crackdown comes after marathon talks between AAC negotiators, the PoK administration, and federal ministers collapsed. The 13-hour dialogue ended inconclusively when the committee refused to compromise on eliminating elite privileges and the refugee assembly seats. Mir confirmed the AAC would continue its shutdown campaign.
In anticipation of the strike, traders’ associations in Muzaffarabad allowed shops to remain open on Sunday so residents could stock essential supplies. Videos circulating on social media show convoys of security forces entering the city, raising fears of a heavy-handed response.
Despite government measures, AAC leaders insist the protests will remain peaceful yet firm. With internet access cut and security tightened, Monday’s demonstrations may represent a critical moment in PoK’s long-standing struggle for political rights.
- With inputs from agencies
