Is Pakistan Losing Its Grip On PoK? Posters Emerge Demanding Merger With India Amid Protests
Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir witnesses surge in people's rights movement, protests against police brutality, demands for merger with India.
In Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a notable people’s rights movement has erupted, fueled by grievances against what locals perceive as brutality perpetrated by Pakistan's police and administration. Recent protests and the forceful suppression of these demonstrations suggest a growing unrest, hinting at Pakistan's waning control over the territory it has unlawfully occupied for decades. Reports from Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot detail clashes between locals and law enforcement, with posters emerging in Rawalakot advocating for a merger with India. Tensions escalated as police resorted to tear gas shelling, provoking outrage among residents. In Dadyal, peaceful protesters were met with tear gas shells, exacerbating the situation.
According to officials, the catalyst for these protests was the tragic deaths of two minor girls, allegedly due to baton charges and tear gas exposure. Outraged by these incidents and other alleged human rights violations, residents across ten districts took to the streets, denouncing Pakistan's purported solidarity with Kashmiris as hollow. The discontent culminated in an assault on the assistant commissioner of PoJK after he ordered the use of tear gas against peaceful protesters. Initial protests were spearheaded by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, demanding compliance with a February agreement and protesting unjust taxes on electricity bills. These grievances have since evolved to encompass broader issues of human rights violations and police brutality. The movement reflects a growing dissatisfaction with Pakistan's governance in the region, highlighting simmering tensions and aspirations for autonomy or alignment with India. As protests continue to gain momentum, Pakistan faces the prospect of losing its grip on PoJK, with implications for regional stability and geopolitics.