Post by : Rameen Ariff

Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) is witnessing one of the largest protests in recent years, as the Awami Action Committee (AAC) launched widespread demonstrations across the region on Monday. The group called for a "shutter-down and wheel-jam" strike, potentially indefinite, prompting heightened tensions. Authorities in Islamabad have deployed additional security forces and cut internet access from midnight to limit mobilisation.

The AAC, a civil society alliance, has gained momentum recently by highlighting long-standing grievances over political marginalisation and economic neglect. The group demands structural reforms, including the removal of 12 legislative seats in the PoK assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. Other demands include subsidised flour, fairer electricity tariffs tied to the Mangla hydropower project, and the implementation of reforms long promised by Islamabad.

"Our campaign is not against any institution but for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years," said AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir while addressing crowds in Muzaffarabad. "Either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people," he added.

Authorities have responded with a show of force, staging flag marches in major towns and deploying thousands of troops from Punjab. Police have sealed key city entry and exit points and increased surveillance around sensitive installations. An additional 1,000 police personnel have been sent from Islamabad to reinforce local security, officials said. District Magistrate Mudasser Farooq warned against disrupting public life, stating that maintaining peace is a collective responsibility.

Recent marathon talks between AAC negotiators, the PoK administration, and federal ministers broke down after 13 hours, with the committee refusing to compromise on elite privileges and refugee assembly seats. "The talks were incomplete and inconclusive," said Mir, pledging to continue the shutdown.

On the ground, citizens are preparing for the strike. Traders in Muzaffarabad have kept shops open ahead of the shutdown, allowing people to stock up on essentials. Videos on social media show large security convoys moving into the city, raising concerns about a possible strong response.

Despite the security clampdown and internet blackout, AAC leaders insist that the protests will remain peaceful yet firm. Monday’s events could mark a critical moment in PoK’s ongoing struggle for political rights, with tensions high on both sides.

#world news #Global News