Protests in Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir have been raging for weeks. People of the region have been protesting against Pakistani establishment’s indifference towards the region, rising inflation, unemployment, and electricity shortages. The protests were triggered over Pakistan’s decision to reserve 12 seats in the 53-member PoK Legislative Assembly for refugees who migrated from Jammu and Kashmir to mainland Pakistan. This gives people residing in Sindh and Punjab a major say in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir assembly.
Pakistan has been brutal in their attempts to suppress these protests and have used everything, from force to a blockade to punish those protesting against Islamabad. Now, in the latest incident showcasing Pakistan’s brutality in the region, they have killed 6 more civilians.
The civilians were killed near Rawalakot’s New Bus Terminal. Notably, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had recently said that people of Rawalakot aren’t even Kashmiris.
The protests are not showing any signs of slowing down despite the brutal oppression by Pakistan establishment. This latest surge in violence is only likely to strengthen the resolve of the protesters who want to detach themselves from Islamabad.
Pakistan has occupied this Indian region for decades, but now, it seems like their grip on it is loosening as people have had enough of Pakistan’s indifference towards their concerns, and their use just for geopolitics by Islamabad.
