'Freedom Is Our Right': Thousands March Across PoJK Against Pakistan

Mass protests erupted across PoK a month after the alleged army crackdown. Fresh firing and tear gas were reported in Muzaffarabad and Dadyal, injuring at least eight as thousands rallied against Pak.

Mass protests erupted across PoK a month after the alleged army crackdown.

Source : Shivank Mishra

Show Quick Read

Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom

• Thousands protested across PoK marking alleged Pakistani army firing.
• Fresh clashes erupted; security forces fired, injured nine protesters.
• Authorities deployed forces, restricted access; leaders reject Pakistani claim.

On the 27th consecutive day of the sweeping civil rebellion across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the region witnessed an unprecedented mass mobilization. Hundreds of thousands of citizens flooded the streets across multiple major cities, directly challenging the illegal occupation of the Pakistani regime.

Defying an intensifying state crackdown, armed paramilitary operations, and live-fire tactics, protesters explicitly raised slogans demanding liberation from Pakistani rule, while signaling towards reunification with India for humanitarian assistance and food supplies. The mass demonstrations saw participation across all demographics, with children, women, youth, and the elderly marching side-by-side to recount decades of state-sponsored atrocities and resource exploitation by Islamabad.

'Freedom Is Our Right': Shift To Foundational Demands

In the Kotli region, the air resonated with rhythmic, defiant chants as thousands gathered to voice their absolute rejection of Pakistan’s Illegal Occupation. Footage obtained from the ground showed massive crowds chanting “Freedom is our right, we will take our freedom! Divine providence will grant us freedom... Why would you not give us freedom? Freedom is our right!"

These unified declarations, emerging from Kotli on July 5, underscore a permanent shift in the public sentiment, transitioning from an agitation over economic inflation to a foundational demand for absolute liberation from Pakistan’s Illegal Occupation.

Women, Youth, And Children Lead The Resistance Frontlines

The resistance has deeply permeated civic society, with localized groups establishing frontlines against the heavily deployed state apparatus. In Rawalakot and Hattian Bala, the streets echoed with severe warnings targeted directly at the local proxy rulers and security agencies: “Look closely, facilitators of oppression, we are your demise! Look closely, rulers, we are your demise!"

In the Paniwala locality of Rawalakot, thousands of women led a massive procession, openly challenging the security forces and defying the heavy deployment of state paramilitaries. Simultaneously, in Hattian Bala, thousands of young demonstrators marched through the arterial roads wielding traditional timber batons, signaling an unyielding stance against any further administrative intimidation.

Highlighting the deep-seated nature of the rebellion, school children took advantage of a school holiday to organize their own independent rallies. Marching through the villages, they chanted “From the streets and the bazaars, revolution will come! Through the hard work of the youth, the children, and the elders, a revolution will arrive... Blood will bear fruit, revolution will come!

One Month Of Total Communication Blackout And Lethal Force

Today’s uprising marks exactly one month since the Pakistani government initiated its preemptive crackdown. On June 5, four days prior to a major strike called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), authorities enforced a total, region-wide internet and mobile data blackout alongside sweeping lethal force.

To date, the state's military response has resulted in at least 58 civilian deaths. Despite the heavy casualties, the state's attempt to violently crush the movement has failed to deter the public.

Live Fire At Neelum Bridge: Protesters Refuse To Retreat

In fresh attempts to disperse unarmed crowds, Pakistani Rangers opened fire on demonstrators at the strategic Neelum Bridge in Muzaffarabad and within Dadyal. The live-fire assaults left at least 8 protesters critically injured. On-the-ground footage from Neelum Bridge revealed a grim scene where the Islamic call to prayer (Azaan) played in the background while state forces actively fired live ammunition into the civilian crowds.

The state's heavy reliance on automatic weapons and arbitrary enforcement of anti-terror proscriptions has completely failed to suppress public morale. Rather than retreating under fire, protesters are conducting massive motorcycle rallies, confronting armed police units, and maintaining their positions on the streets.