Why Is PoK Up In Arms?

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Pakistan-Occupied kashmir (PoK) over high inflation, heavy taxation, electricity shortage and the demand for merger with India. Day-to-day activities and business remained halted as the clashes turned violent in PoK’s capital Muzaffarabad on Saturday. Strikes were being called across multiple parts of PoK such as Samahni, Sehansa, Mirpur, Rawalakot, Khuiratta, Tattapani, and Hattian Bala. According to the Pakistani Rangers and the local police, fired tear gas, pellets, and bullets were fired in the air to dispel the protesters. But two have died in the attack.

A sub-inspector succumbed to a gunshot wound in the chest in the town of Islamgarh where he was deployed along with other police personnel to stop a rally for Muzaffarabad, as per pakistan daily Dawn.

WHY LED TO PROTESTS IN POK?

Police arrested around 70 Jammu kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) activists during raids in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur divisions, leading to clashes in Dadyal on wednesday and Thursday, according to PTI news agency. Following this, the organization called for a massive strike on Friday. The committee had previously announced that people from across the state would stage a long march towards Muzaffarabad on May 11. Dawn mentioned that the JKJAAC movement sought electricity should be provided to consumers following the production cost of hydro-power in the state.

After the strike call by JKJACC, the Chief Secretary of the PoK had written to the Secretary of the Interior Division in Islamabad and request for six civil armed forces (CAF) platoons for security. In the letter, Chief Secretary Dawood Muhammad Bareach, in his letter of april 22, said: “We are (now) faced with calls for shutter down and wheel-jam strikes from May 11 onwards given by the sub-nationalists and other disgruntled subversive elements. They intend to create a law and order situation by forcibly closing markets and disrupting public service delivery." During a strike on Friday, violent clashes took place between protesters and police in various parts of Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK. police then resorted to teargas shelling, which affected people in their homes and mosques after demonstrators pelted stones.