Islamabad, August 17: The town of Rawalakot in Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been in the spotlight in recent months. The Pakistani military has crossed all limits of brutality against unarmed civilians demanding their rights. Many innocent lives have been lost in the violence. The public is remembering these martyrs with deep emotion. Red roses have been placed at memorials, and shops have been closed in their honor.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) visited the city where the Pakistani military unleashed terror on innocent people, making it a focal point for protests over the past months. Local resident Haji Hasan Azeez reported that about three weeks ago, he witnessed security personnel firing indiscriminately at unarmed individuals with heavy guns.
Hasan told ABC, “We carried the bodies; some were placed in ambulances, while others were lifted onto our shoulders. This is the spot (pointing) where a boy named Noman was martyred. He was from Singola village, two to three kilometers away.”
The ABC report further noted that another local, Mumtaz Khan, observed police deploying tear gas, followed by a barrage of gunfire that left holes in the walls of their homes.
The prominent Australian public service media outlet reported that since the shooting, the central bus station of the city has been crowded with hundreds of protesters demanding change. Many expressed astonishment at the government’s brutal response. Locals mentioned that even local journalists, often referred to as “fixers” by foreign media, were hindered from gathering information due to internet and mobile coverage shutdowns.
Residents informed the Australian network that many injured individuals were taken home for treatment as hospitals had closed down.
Hasan recounted, “We did whatever treatment we could… We covered their wounds with our scarves. We thought they would only use tear gas. We had sticks and stones in our hands.”
He added that people are now struggling to buy food and essential supplies, as the administration is blocking deliveries in the area, and the government has even cut off electricity in some neighborhoods.
Last week, the Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is leading the protests, appealed to international human rights organizations and media to monitor the situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
In a video shared by the JAC on social media, several individuals were seen gathered in a room while one man was receiving treatment. In the video, the man stated that a person was injured due to security forces’ firing in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, vowing to continue the protests.
The JAC stated, “Two people were injured due to firing by security forces in Rawalakot. The use of force against ordinary people is very concerning. We demand an immediate end to the violence and urge international human rights organizations and media to closely monitor the ground situation.”
This statement from the JAC came just hours after thousands gathered in various rallies across Pakistan-administered Kashmir, criticizing the brutal violence perpetrated by Pakistani forces over the past months.
In Bokhara, a large number of women and children participated in a protest rally, chanting slogans like “Inquilab Aayega” (Revolution will come).
The Pakistani government has imposed such strict restrictions that an accurate estimate of the death toll is not possible. Meanwhile, several human rights activists claim that over 100 people have been killed during the violence, with many more injured.
This significant clash between locals and the Pakistani government began over rising electricity and essential goods prices. It later evolved into a movement demanding political reforms, greater accountability, and representative governance.
Leave a Comment