Why did JAAC protest spark violence despite ban in PoK? How did the Muzaffarabad-Rawalkot clash lead to 11 deaths and dozens of injuries? Why did inflation, seat dispute and political pressure make the situation so explosive? Is this a sign of crisis and major conflict in PoK before the elections?
PoK Protests: At present, a very scary and hair-raising news is coming out from Pakistan’s illegally occupied Kashmir (PoK), which has turned the entire area into a smoldering volcano. Thousands of protesters have come out on the streets, defying the strict restrictions imposed by the government and the shadow of bayonets. In this latest and unprecedented violence that broke out in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot, at least 11 people have died tragically so far, while more than 70 people are seriously injured. This complete bandh called by the ‘Joint Awami Action Committee’ (JAAC) has shaken the Pakistani government and the situation has become so out of control that army and paramilitary forces had to be deployed in the entire area.
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There was a scream outside the mortuary… when suddenly indiscriminate firing started!
This bloody conflict began when an angry mob of thousands gathered outside the mortuary of a local hospital in Rawalakot. Actually, the body of a social worker who was killed in police firing recently was kept there. The suspense and tension reached its peak when supporters of JAAC, which has been declared banned under anti-terrorism laws, insisted on protesting with the body of their comrade. According to Poonch Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan, suddenly some unknown assailants hidden in the crowd started firing directly at the police, killing four police officers and an innocent pedestrian on the spot. After this, the security forces also retaliated by firing indiscriminately, due to which six more protesters were killed. The ground of the hospital was red with blood and only screams were echoing all around.
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That ‘secret agenda’ of 45 seats: Why is PoK burning?
There is a very controversial and secret political agenda of the Pakistani government behind this terrible outrage. In fact, recently the administration has given a unilateral decision to reserve 12 seats out of the 45-member assembly of PoK for refugees living in other parts of Pakistan. Local residents and JAAC leaders allege that Islamabad wants to eliminate the original representation of Kashmiris through this step and is hatching a deep conspiracy to put outsiders in power. For the last two years, this area had already become a hell with skyrocketing inflation, flour crisis, severe unemployment and 20-20 hour power cuts, and this new election decision has added fuel to the burning fire.
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Blackout and genocide allegations: Will the voice of Kashmiris be suppressed?
The Pakistani government has adopted repressive policies to crush this rebellion. Mobile internet and communication services have been completely blocked (blackout) throughout PoK so that the truth of the valley cannot be revealed to the world. The main offices of JAAC have been sealed and Section 144 has been imposed. Amidst this dreadful atmosphere, the organization’s top leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir released a cryptic video message on social media and cried, “The government has started openly massacring our innocent people in Rawalakot.” The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has also expressed deep concern over this repression, raised serious questions on the restrictions imposed by the government and has announced to send a special fact-finding team there.
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Sound of great war before elections: Panic across the world!
This violence, which broke out just before the elections to be held on July 27, has now attracted the attention of the international community. The situation has become so critical and scary that powerful countries like the United Kingdom (UK), Australia and Canada have issued ‘travel advisories’ for their citizens. These countries have warned that a civil war-like situation can arise in PoK at any time, roads are completely closed and there is a serious threat to the lives of foreign citizens. This brutality of the Pakistani Army has made it clear that it wants to keep the Kashmiri people as slaves on the basis of guns, but this time the people have also made up their mind for an all-out war. The question still remains – is this spark the beginning of the end of Pakistan?