VIOLENCE AGITATION IN PAKISTAN OCCUPIED PAKISTAN

 

This report details a serious escalation of unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), highlighting a significant challenge to the Shehbaz Sharif government and Pakistani authority in the region.

Here is an analysis of the key points:

1. The Nature and Scale of the Unrest

• Violent Clashes: The report explicitly mentions three policemen killed and over 100 people injured (other reports suggest a higher death toll, including civilians), indicating that the protests have turned violent, likely involving clashes between protesters and security forces.
• Mass Mobilization and Shutdown: The "massive demonstrations" have successfully enforced a complete "shutdown of markets, shops, local businesses, and transport services" across PoK, demonstrating the widespread support and effectiveness of the AAC's call for a strike. This level of paralysis suggests deep-rooted public anger.
• Direct Challenge to Authority: The protests are a direct expression of dissent against the Shehbaz Sharif government, signifying a breakdown of the social contract between the administration and the local populace.

2. Core Demands and Grievances (The 38-Point Charter)

The protests are centered on a 38-point charter of demands, indicating a broad range of long-standing grievances. The most prominent demands reported include:

• Political Representation Reform: The demand for the removal of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan is a major political issue. Locals argue that these seats undermine representative governance by disproportionately favoring the influence of Islamabad and the refugees over the local population.
• Economic and Utility Issues: Broader context suggests the charter also includes demands for subsidised flour and fairer power tariffs (especially considering local rivers and land are used for projects like the Mangla Dam and Neelum–Jhelum, which generate electricity), tax relief, and an end to the "privileges of the elite" and corruption.

3. Government Response and Implications

• Use of Force and Information Control: The casualty figures (policemen and civilians) point to a heavy-handed response by Pakistani security forces. Other sources confirm the deployment of troops and a complete communications blackout (internet/mobile suspension), which are common tactics used to crush dissent and prevent coordination.
• Offer of Negotiation: The Shehbaz Sharif government has offered negotiations (mentioning that 90% of demands were allegedly accepted), showing an attempt to de-escalate the situation, though the failure of previous talks and the focus on the remaining "constitutional" demands (like the 12 reserved seats) keep the core issues unresolved.

Conclusion:

The PoK unrest represents a significant internal crisis for Pakistan. It goes beyond simple economic grievances, challenging the fundamental structures of political representation and governance in the region. The violence, mass participation, and specific demand to strip reserved seats highlight a deep-seated feeling of exploitation and political marginalization of the local PoK population by the Pakistani establishment.