May 12th 2024.
In the disputed region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, violent clashes erupted between security forces and protesters on Saturday. The protests were in response to the high prices of wheat flour and electricity, which have caused widespread hardship for the people. According to media reports, one police officer was killed and over 100 people, mostly policemen, were injured in the clashes.
The protests were led by activists of a rights movement, who called for a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike across the territory. The Dawn newspaper reported that the clashes took place in Mirpur, where the Senior Superintendent of Police Kamran Ali confirmed the death of sub-inspector Adnan Qureshi. Qureshi was deployed in the town of Islamgarh to stop a rally organized by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which included traders and other members of the state.
The JAAC has been advocating for the provision of electricity at a subsidized cost and an end to the privileges of the elite class. In response to the protests, the regional government called in the Rangers and a heavy contingent of policemen. Mobile phone and internet services were also suspended in different parts of the region, including Bhimber and Bagh Towns.
Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has called for an emergency meeting to address the situation in the region, and has instructed stakeholders to bring proposals for finding a resolution. The tensions escalated when around 70 JAAC activists were arrested by the police, leading to serious clashes in Dadyal. The committee then announced a strike and a long march towards Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK.
During the strike on Friday, violent clashes broke out between the police and protesters in Muzaffarabad, leading to injuries on both sides. To prevent further protests, the authorities placed mounds of earth on the roads leading to Muzaffarabad and made more arrests. Witnesses reported that the strikes were observed in Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.
According to reports, 78 policemen were injured in Kotli district, and 29 protesters were injured in the clashes. A spokesperson for the JAAC denied any involvement in the violence and claimed that certain elements had been planted in the protesters' ranks to discredit their peaceful struggle for their rights. The Finance Minister of PoK, Abdul Majid Khan, stated that the government is willing to negotiate with the protesters to address their demands, but their offer should not be seen as a sign of weakness.
Speaking to the media, the so-called Prime Minister of PoK, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, said that the government had reached an agreement with the JAAC to address their demands for lower electricity and wheat flour prices. However, the committee later deviated from the agreement and announced new demands, leading to further protests and violence.
In response to the ongoing protests and clashes, the authorities have imposed a ban on public gatherings, rallies, and processions in all districts, and Section 144 has been imposed in the entire region. The situation remains tense in PoK as the government and protesters continue to negotiate for a resolution to the issues at hand.
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