Post by : Rameen Ariff

Muzaffarabad – Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has been gripped by days of violent anti-government protests, leaving at least nine people dead and many injured. The unrest began on Monday, when thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding an end to lavish benefits for politicians, including free electricity and expensive vehicles.

Authorities have blocked internet and mobile services in the mountainous valley, limiting news coverage, while local media were warned not to report on the demonstrations. who visited the area on Wednesday described streets stained with blood, littered with bullet casings, broken glass, and stones, reflecting the chaos that has engulfed Muzaffarabad.

Protesters expressed anger at the political class. “The politicians here behave like gangsters ruling over our heads; we want them gone and their privileges removed,” said 51-year-old Asad Tabbasum.

The government of Azad Kashmir confirmed that six civilians and three policemen have been killed since the protests began. More than 170 police personnel and at least 50 civilians have been injured, while protest organisers claim over 100 civilians were hurt in clashes. Security forces have deployed heavily in Muzaffarabad, firing tear gas to control crowds that reached as many as 6,000 at their peak. The military has not commented publicly on the protests.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said in a statement that a few miscreants, allegedly instigated by an “enemy,” are attempting to disturb peace and order in Azad Kashmir, a term often used in Pakistan to refer to India. He added that while peaceful protests are allowed, taking the law into one’s own hands will not be tolerated.

Kashmir, claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, has long been a highly sensitive region, with frequent skirmishes and periodic wars. The protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have been led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), a civil rights group demanding affordable electricity, better healthcare, and an end to the political elite’s privileges. Similar movements have been seen in other Pakistani provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Markets and schools in Muzaffarabad were closed on Wednesday as thousands of chanting protesters marched past buildings damaged by fire or with broken windows. Protest leader Shaukat Nawaz claimed police had fired live bullets at demonstrators. “The bullets being fired at us are made in Pakistan to be used against the enemy and are now being used against us,” he said.

Protesters also accused authorities of harassing journalists and preventing media coverage of their demonstrations. “Our voice has been muted. They are reporting us as miscreants when we are here for our rights,” said 22-year-old Akash Kazmi.

In response, the government stated that it had accepted “90 percent of the demands” and urged protesters to resolve issues through dialogue. However, AAC leaders, including Nawaz, rejected this claim, saying their demands for affordable electricity and better hospitals have not been met. They also criticised the weak internet access in the region, controlled by military-backed companies and available at high prices.

Protests and funeral processions continued on Thursday as residents voiced their frustration. Nawaz emphasised that the demonstrators are neither betrayers nor agents of India, asserting that they are simply demanding their rights.

The protests highlight ongoing tensions in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, with anger directed at political elites, inadequate services, and limited freedoms, while raising concerns about the heavy-handed response by security forces in the region.

#world news #Global News