Shehbaz Government Faces Widespread Unrest as PoK Citizens March in Thousands

Massive Protests Rock PoK as AAC Launches Shutter-Down Strike.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is witnessing one of its largest demonstrations in recent history as the Awami Action Committee (AAC) launched a sweeping “shutter-down and wheel-jam” strike on Monday. The indefinite protest has escalated tensions, prompting Islamabad to deploy thousands of security forces and cut internet access from midnight to curb mobilisation.

Demands and Grievances

• The AAC, a civil society alliance, has rallied thousands under its banner, citing decades of political marginalisation and economic neglect. Their 38-point charter demands include:
• Abolition of 12 PoK assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees
• Subsidised flour and fairer electricity tariffs linked to the Mangla hydropower project
• Implementation of long-delayed reforms promised by Islamabad

“Our campaign is not against any institution but for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years,” said Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a core AAC leader.

Government Response

Authorities have responded with a show of force, including flag marches, deployment of additional troops from Punjab, and sealing of key city entry and exit points. District Magistrate Mudasser Farooq warned against disrupting public life, insisting that maintaining peace is a collective responsibility.

The heavy deployment comes after 13-hour-long talks between AAC negotiators, PoK officials, and federal ministers collapsed, with the committee refusing to compromise on refugee assembly seats and elite privileges.

On the Ground

Anticipation is high across PoK. Traders in Muzaffarabad kept shops open on Sunday for citizens to stock up on essentials ahead of the shutdown. Videos on social media show security convoys and heightened surveillance, while protesters chant slogans demanding political rights and autonomy.

Despite government crackdowns, AAC leaders have vowed a peaceful but firm protest, warning that the standoff could mark a turning point in PoK’s long-running struggle for representation and rights.