Unprecedented Civil Uprising in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir: Thousands Protest Against Decades of Marginalization

The Awami Action Committee has mobilized thousands of supporters under its banner as shown in the file photo above.

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is currently experiencing one of the most significant protest movements in its recent history, with the Awami Action Committee (AAC) orchestrating widespread demonstrations across the region on Monday.

The organization has called for a potentially indefinite "shutter-down and wheel-jam" strike, prompting authorities in Islamabad to deploy substantial security forces and implement an internet blackout starting at midnight to restrict coordination among protesters.

The AAC, a coalition of civil society organizations that has gained substantial momentum in recent months, has successfully gathered thousands of supporters who share concerns about decades of political sidelining and economic disregard. The coalition's comprehensive 38-point agenda calls for fundamental reforms, including the elimination of 12 legislative seats in the PoK assembly currently reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan, which many locals believe undermines representative governance. Additional priorities encompass subsidized flour, more equitable power rates connected to the Mangla hydropower project, and implementation of previously promised reforms that Islamabad has delayed.

During an address to crowds in Muzaffarabad, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, a prominent AAC leader, stated: "Our campaign is not against any institution but for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years. Enough is enough. Either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people."

The government has responded with a significant display of force. In recent days, heavily armed convoys have conducted flag marches through major towns in PoK, while thousands of troops have been deployed from Punjab. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, police established blockades at key entry and exit points of major cities and intensified surveillance around sensitive installations.

Authorities have dispatched an additional 1,000 police personnel from the capital to bolster local security operations. Officials maintain that these measures are essential for maintaining public order. According to District Magistrate Mudasser Farooq, as quoted by The Dawn, "Peace is the collective responsibility of citizens and the administration," with warnings issued against any disruption to public life.

This substantial deployment follows the collapse of extensive negotiations between AAC representatives, the PoK administration, and federal ministers. After 13 hours of discussion, talks broke down when the committee refused to compromise on their demands to eliminate elite privileges and refugee assembly seats. "The talks were incomplete and inconclusive," Mir announced, confirming their intention to proceed with the shutdown.

Throughout the region, a sense of anticipation is evident.

Traders' associations in Muzaffarabad announced that shops would remain open on Sunday, providing residents an opportunity to purchase food and essential supplies before the shutdown. Social media platforms feature videos showing security forces arriving in the city, fueling concerns about a potential forceful response. Citizens of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir can be seen in various recordings chanting for liberation from Pakistan's control.

Despite governmental pressure, AAC leadership maintains that their protest will remain peaceful yet resolute. With internet access now suspended and security measures intensified, Monday's confrontation could represent a pivotal moment in PoK's ongoing struggle for political rights.

As tensions continue to build, neither side appears willing to retreat—creating conditions for a potentially volatile standoff with implications that could extend far beyond the valleys of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.