Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has erupted in massive protests against the Shehbaz Sharif government, with thousands rallying under the Awami Action Committee (AAC). Marked as one of the region’s largest uprisings in recent history, the AAC on Monday launched a sweeping “shutter-down and wheel-jam” strike. The move has ignited intense tensions across cities and towns, putting Islamabad on edge.
Reform Demands Rise in PoK
The group has emerged as a powerful civil society alliance in recent months. It’s 38-point charter demands long-ignored reforms. Key demands include abolishing reserved assembly seats for Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan, fairer electricity tariffs from the Mangla hydropower project, and subsidised flour to ease economic pressure. AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir declared, “Our fight is not against any institution, but for rights denied for decades.”
Govt Crackdown Fuels Unrest
Islamabad has responded with force. Thousands of security personnel have been deployed, internet services cut, and major entry points sealed. Talks between AAC leaders and federal ministers collapsed after marathon discussions. The breakdown of dialogue has deepened the standoff. With chants of freedom echoing in Muzaffarabad and beyond, PoK now stands on the edge of a volatile confrontation.
