The situation remained tense in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as the total strike against high prices of wheat flour and inflated electricity bills and taxes entered its fourth day on Monday. The unrest has commanded the attention of the Pakistan government, prompting an allocation of Rs 23 billion for immediate release to the region, aiming to quell the rising discontent among the populace.
Reports from the disputed region surfaced—clashes on Saturday between the police and activists of a rights movement, known as the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), saw at least one police officer dead and over 100 people injured, most of whom were policemen. A complete strike has been observed since Friday, effectively bringing life in the territory to a standstill.
In response to the escalating tension, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing his deep concern, approved the substantial financial package after the negotiations between the protesters and the regional government reached a deadlock.
Prime Minister Sharif presided over a special meeting in which Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, the region’s “prime minister,” along with local ministers and top political leaders, reviewed the situation intensively. The PM’s Office announced Sharif’s authorization of the Rs23 billion fund to address the issues faced by the people of PoK.
The gathering, which also included federal ministers and leaders of coalition parties, ended with participants expressing their support and appreciation for Shehbaz Sharif’s decision.
The protest movement, steered by the JAAC and predominantly comprised of traders, calls for affordable electricity according to the region’s hydropower generation cost, subsidized wheat flour, and the termination of elite class privileges. As the wheel-jam strike entered its fourth day, the JAAC led a long march toward Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Their decision came in the wake of fruitless talks between the JAAC core committee and Chief Secretary Dawood Bareach.
Participants in the ongoing demonstrations have claimed the government has employed evasive tactics to deal with their concerns. In support of their demands, protestors have staged sit-ins, closing vital routes such as the Kohala–Muzaffarabad Road, and major thoroughfares remained blocked. Markets, trade centers, schools, and educational institutes have shut their doors, and transportation services have been suspended.
In the city of Mirpur, the administration summoned the Rangers to restore order after violent clashes broke out between police and protestors. Prime Minister Sharif has condemned the violence that occurred, appealing for a peaceful resolution and cautioning against any vitriolic actions.
As tensions continue to simmer, President Asif Ali Zardari made a plea for restraint and urged dialogue and mutual consultation to resolve the mounting issues. He emphasized responsible conduct by political parties, state institutions, and the people of the region to prevent hostile forces from capitalizing on the unrest.
The president voiced his regret over the recent events, extended condolences for the loss of a police officer, and wished for the speedy recovery of those injured in the hostilities. Meanwhile, authorities have implemented stricter measures, including a crackdown on demonstrators, resulting in numerous arrests across Muzaffarabad and, in an attempt to control information flow, suspended mobile phone and internet services in certain areas.
The situation reached a zenith when police detained around 70 activists to thwart an impending long march called by the JAAC—a collective effort to hold the government accountable to an agreement made earlier in February, leading to severe confrontations. Consequently, a “shutter-down strike” was instigated, with government offices and educational institutions remaining closed amidst the growing turmoil.
