Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is simmering with unrest as the protest against high prices of wheat flour and inflated electricity bills and taxes entered its fourth day on Tuesday, news agency ANI reported. Clashes erupted between protestors and authorities at PoK's capital Muzaffarabad.
The Awami Action Committee organized a protest calling for tax-free electricity sourced from the Mangla Dam and subsidies on wheat flour. The protest was prompted by overnight police raids, leading to the arrests of several leaders and activists. Clashes erupted between law enforcement and protesters in Muzaffarabad, Dadyal, Mirpur, and other areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Speaking about the ongoing protests, Political activist from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Amjad Ayub Mirza said: "At the moment the situation in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-occupied Kashmir is getting very very serious. This morning, about 500,000 people descended upon Muzaffarabad and in the suburbs to protest against taxes on electricity bills, cuts in subsidies and to demand an end to the perks and privileges of the Prime Minister, the President, all members of the Legislative Assembly as well as the judges and bureaucracy. Suddenly the protesters hit back and the Rangers retreated. It seemed as if the Rangers had disappeared from the scene, but then they came with a heavy contingency of rangers."
According to Mirza, they stated that wheat prices have been decreased by Rs 600-700 per month. The Pakistan government has agreed to provide an annual grant of 23 billion Rupees to support these revised prices. "The people, the leaders of the Jammu-Kashmir Joint Action Committee (JAAC) are curious about it and they asked people to march towards Gilani Square, which is now called Aziz Chowk," he stated.
Highlighting the ground realities in PoK, Mirza stated: "The death toll might increase. The internet has totally shut down in the region. The army commandos started to land in helicopters in the center of Muzaffarabad and each helicopter was carrying about 20 to 25 commandos, they started to land and we don't know what is happening now because the internet is totally shut down, and others people are dying. We are in a desperate situation."
He added: "The Indian repertoire in the United Nations, we requested to raise their voice at the United Nations Forum. We also request the Indian government to instruct the Ministry of External Affairs to summon the Pakistan ambassador and ask for an explanation. This is the broad daylight murder that is taking place in PoK. Our lives are in danger."