New Delhi: At least two people lost their lives and 22 others were injured on Monday after protests in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), turned violent. According to sources, armed men linked to the Pakistan Army and the ISI-backed Muslim Conference reportedly fired on civilians demanding basic rights.
Footage shared by Pakistani news channels captured the unrest. In one clip, armed men were seen firing into the air as protesters swarmed vehicles, waving flags and chanting slogans. Another video showed a demonstrator displaying spent bullet casings.
The wave of anger across PoK, led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), has escalated in the past 24 hours, resulting in a complete shutdown of markets, transport services, and businesses. The movement has coalesced around 38 demands, including the scrapping of 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which locals argue weakens genuine representation.
“Our campaign is for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years… either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people,” AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir said. Labeling the ongoing strike as “plan A,” Mir warned that the AAC was ready with further steps, including a severe “plan D,” if the government continued to ignore their demands.
Islamabad has responded with heightened military presence. Dawn reported that heavily armed troops carried out flag marches in PoK towns, while thousands of soldiers were redeployed from Punjab province. Additional reinforcements, including 1,000 troops from Islamabad, have also been dispatched. In parallel, the government restricted internet access across the region.
The unrest comes just days after Pakistan Air Force strikes killed 30 civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. China-made J-17 fighter jets dropped LS-6 laser-guided bombs on a remote village, sparking public outrage. Anger has been further inflamed by the increasing presence of banned groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, believed to be setting up new bases in the province after India’s Operation Sindoor.
The growing violence has deepened widespread resentment in PoK, where calls for basic rights now stand intertwined with demands for accountability over the military’s heavy-handed actions.
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