At least one person was killed and over a dozen others, including a policeman, were injured in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Monday amid a region-wide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike protesting unfulfilled demands for subsidies and reforms. The violence erupted near Neelum Bridge in Muzaffarabad during a "peace rally" led by Muslim Conference leader Raja Saqib Majeed, which clashed with demonstrators from the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), the strike's organisers.
Eyewitnesses accused Majeed's supporters of unprovoked firing, while police allegedly used tear gas and live rounds to disperse the crowd, leaving spent bullet casings scattered at the site. The incident, reported by Dawn, highlights deepening fractures in PoK's fragile socio-political landscape, where economic grievances have fuelled protests since 2023.
The fatality—a crockery shop owner struck by a bullet—occurred after midday, with the victim succumbing during treatment at the Combined Military Hospital. Another shopkeeper wounded by shrapnel recounted how protesters attempted to clear a path for Majeed's convoy, only to face an assault from his entourage. Protected by police and paramilitary forces, the peace rally—seen as a counter-demonstration by rival factions—escalated tensions, with both sides trading blame for instigating the melee.
Mobile and internet services, suspended since Sunday noon to curb "misinformation", are likely to persist until Wednesday, isolating the region of about 40 lakh people and amplifying local frustrations. This blackout, a recurring tactic during unrest, echoes similar curbs in 2023 protests, drawing criticism from human rights groups like Amnesty International for stifling free expression.
The JKJAAC-led strike, marking its second anniversary, stems from a 38-point charter demanding subsidised wheat flour (at Rs 15/kg versus the current Rs 400), electricity tariffs capped at Rs 3/unit, and infrastructure projects like roads in remote areas. It also calls for abolishing 12 reserved assembly seats for refugees—often viewed as elite privileges—and ending job quotas favouring them, alongside judicial reforms and free education and healthcare.
Organisers accuse the PoK government, backed by Islamabad, of reneging on a 2023 agreement that partially met initial demands but faltered amid Pakistan's economic woes, including 38% inflation and IMF bailout strings. Muzaffarabad's Lal Chowk saw evening rallies where JKJAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir urged an 11 AM reconvening Tuesday, vowing escalation if unmet. Businesses shuttered across Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Sudhnoti, and Bhimber, with PTI-affiliated rallies in the latter underscoring partisan divides.
Also Read: Valencia Football Club Files Lawsuit Against Netflix Over Vinícius Documentary
PoK's unrest reflects broader instability in the disputed territory, administered by Pakistan since 1947 but claimed by India as integral, with the Line of Control as the de facto border. Protests have intensified post-2023, blending economic ire with calls for autonomy amid Pakistan's fiscal crisis that slashed subsidies. In Bhimber, Ehsanul Haq—brother of "Prime Minister" Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq and PTI stalwart—led a parallel rally, tying grievances to jailed founder Imran Khan's narrative of federal neglect.
As Tuesday's action looms, authorities brace for more clashes, with the strike's success hinging on unity against perceived elite capture. This episode not only exposes PoK's underdevelopment—per capita income at Rs 1.5 lakh versus Pakistan's Rs 2.8 lakh—but also risks spillover into cross-border tensions, as India monitors the situation closely.
Also Read: Assam Police Seize Rs 9 Crore Worth Yaba Tablets in Major Bust