Muzaffarabad, September 29 — Two protesters were killed and 22 others injured when police opened fire during demonstrations in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, amid a region-wide shutdown strike against the government’s failure to meet demands from the Joint Awami Action Committee. The clashes erupted as thousands participated in rallies across Muzaffarabad, Kotli and Mirpur, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
The incident occurred during a wheel-jam strike called by the Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JKAAC), which has issued a 38-point charter seeking economic relief, political autonomy and better governance. Key demands include abolishing elite privileges, removing 12 reserved legislative seats for Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan, securing hydropower royalties for local benefit, subsidised wheat flour akin to Gilgit-Baltistan and electricity tariffs based on Mangla Dam costs, as reported by ANI.
In Muzaffarabad, tensions escalated when security forces, including armed police and paramilitary, clashed with demonstrators near key sites. Sources indicated that ISI-backed Muslim Conference affiliates fired on civilians, with protesters displaying bullet shells as evidence. Markets, transport and communication services shut down, while heavy security deployments and flag marches preceded the violence, according to PTI.
A protester in Kotli said, “The sitting MLA tried for days to derail this movement but failed,” adding, “People were threatened, but today everyone is standing firm. Until the demands are met, protests will continue with full force,” as cited by ANI. In Mirpur, bike rallies chanted slogans for immediate action on the committee’s agenda.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in PoK amplified the protests online, accusing the government of repression. No official statement from Pakistani authorities on the casualties was available, but the unrest reflects deepening frustration over unmet promises. Demonstrations persisted into the evening, with calls for sustained action.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
