Pakistan-occupied Kashmir residents rise against Islamabad’s rule, 2 dead in clashes

Muzaffarabad: At least two people were killed and 22 others injured on Monday when Pakistani security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoJK).

The protesters, led by the Awami Action Committee, were demanding basic rights and sweeping structural reforms.

The agitation, which spread to Dadyal and other PoJK towns, saw thousands pour onto the streets. A complete shutdown of shops, markets, transport, and businesses was enforced.

Eyewitness videos shared by local media showed armed men—allegedly backed by Pakistan’s Army and the ISI-linked Muslim Conference—firing at unarmed civilians. Protesters were seen waving flags, chanting slogans, and displaying bullet casings.

The Public Action Committee has tabled a 38-point charter of demands, including the abolition of 12 reserved assembly seats allotted to Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan, a system locals say undermines representative governance. 

“Our fight is for fundamental rights denied for over 70 years. Either the government delivers, or it faces the wrath of the people,” AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir declared.

He warned Islamabad of escalating measures, calling Monday’s strike “Plan A,” and hinting at a severe “Plan D” if demands remain unmet.

In response, Islamabad deployed heavily armed troops, conducted flag marches, and suspended internet and mobile services across PoJK. Additional contingents were rushed in from Punjab and Islamabad to tighten control. 

The unrest comes days after a separate tragedy in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 30 civilians were killed when the Pakistan Air Force used China-made J-17 jets to drop laser-guided bombs on a village while targeting militants.

Analysts say the PoJK protests, combined with rising civilian deaths from state actions, highlight Islamabad’s growing domestic crisis, both politically and militarily.