In a stark contrast to the high voter turnout in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, where 37.98% of eligible voters cast their ballots in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Kashmiris in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) have been protesting against the oppressive treatment by Islamabad since May 9th.
The trigger for the protests was the raiding and arrest of activists associated with the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) on the intervening night of May 8th and 9th. Despite the violent protests being called off after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a package of 23 billion Pakistani rupees on Monday, the conflagration serves as a red flag for Islamabad as economic disparities in the Srinagar Valley and exploitation of the public in Occupied Kashmir continue to escalate.
Although Pakistan and Western media attempted to minimize the violence in PoK, the protests erupted in major cities, including Samahmi, Sehansa, Mirpur, Dadyal, Rawalkot, Khuiratta, Tattapani, and Hattian Bala. It is estimated that at least 70 JAAC activists were detained, sparking clashes between police and demonstrators. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of at least one police officer and three civilians, with over 100 people sustaining serious injuries.
The JAAC, a socio-political organization comprising traders, transporters, and lawyers, has been at the forefront of protests in Occupied Kashmir due to rising living costs, particularly in food (wheat), fuel, and electricity bills. The JAAC had called for a ‘Long March’ to Muzaffarabad on May 11th, which was preempted by Islamabad with raids and arrests of the activists on May 8th and 9th.
During the violent protests, demonstrators torched three vehicles belonging to the Pakistan Rangers while chanting anti-Pakistan and pro-independence slogans. The internet was shut down for a week, and schools and trading establishments were closed.
Pakistani paramilitary forces used excessive force to quell the protests, with activists accusing them of human rights violations. The intensity of the protests compelled Prime Minister Sharif to call for peace and ultimately concede to the protestors’ demands for subsidized electricity and fuel.
In addition to local police, Islamabad deployed three battalions of Pakistan Rangers from Kohala and the Army to quell the unrest. Despite Pakistan police blaming India for instigating the protests, dissent has been simmering in Rawalkot, Occupied Kashmir, since May 2023, with activists protesting against provincial and federal government decisions regarding electricity and wheat flour price hikes. This was followed by a boycott and non-payment of electricity bills. Electricity charges in PoK are five times higher than production costs, fueling deep resentment among the locals.
The protestors put forth a list of demands, including:
– Wheat subsidy similar to Gilgit-Baltistan
– Electricity tariff based on the cost of production from the Mangla Dam hydroelectric project
– Elimination of unnecessary perks and privileges for the ruling class (Punjabis) and officials
– Lifting of restrictions on student unions and conducting elections
– Making the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Bank’ in Occupied Kashmir a scheduled bank
– Providing funds and powers to municipal representatives
– Standardization of cellular company and internet service rates
– Reduction of property transfer tax
– Activation of the Accountability Bureau and relevant amendments to the act
– Imposition of restrictions on tree cutting and legislation to revitalize the local industry
The provincial government reportedly agreed to these demands in February 2024 after a call strike was announced for February 5th, which is ironically celebrated by Islamabad propagandists as Kashmir Solidarity Day.
