Muzaffarabad: Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a senior leader of the Awami Action Committee in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), has accused the Pakistan government and army of systemic oppression, saying the region is far from the “Azad Kashmir” that its name suggests.
Mir likened the authorities to a witch targeting the populace and recalled controversial remarks by Gen Asim Munir labelling Hindus as “kaafir” prior to the Pahalgam attack. He said, “While Pakistan accuses others of atrocities, its own leaders are committing them in PoK. Ordinary voices are being crushed, media silenced, and those claiming to represent the people are instead killing them.”
The situation in PoK has intensified, with ongoing protests by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC). In response, the PoK administration has imposed an indefinite lockdown and deployed unprecedented security forces to suppress the unrest. Mobile and internet services have been suspended, limiting communication.
The JKJAAC has submitted a 38-point charter of demands to the Pakistan government, calling for the removal of perks for elites and protesting against the brutal crackdown on civilians. The organization has also urged Kashmiris worldwide to highlight the situation internationally and called for a symbolic siege of Muzaffarabad.
Reports indicate that security forces have fired on peaceful protesters, leading to allegations of a systematic plan by the Pakistan government to eliminate dissent. The protests continue unabated, with concerns growing over escalating violence and human rights violations in the region.
