Islamabad, June 20: Discontent among the public in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is escalating due to rising inflation, lack of political rights, and governance issues. A recent report indicates that there is deep resentment against Islamabad’s increasing interference, which is evolving into a significant public movement.
According to an article in the online magazine ‘The Diplomat’, violent clashes between protesters and security forces this month have highlighted the long-standing public anger in the region. The crackdown by Pakistani security forces on demonstrators demanding governance reforms has resulted in multiple fatalities, creating a political crisis for Islamabad and drawing international criticism.
The report suggests that the unrest in PoK has become a major domestic challenge for the Pakistani government ahead of the upcoming assembly elections scheduled for the end of July. This situation cannot be concealed through diplomatic efforts or by projecting a peace-promoting image.
On June 5, officials announced elections would be held on July 27. Concurrently, they imposed a ban on the Joint Action Committee (JAC), an organization of lawyers, traders, transport workers, and civil society activists, accusing it of involvement in terrorism.
The timing of the election announcement and the ban on JAC cannot be seen as mere coincidence. Concerns have been raised that local authorities, under directives from Islamabad and particularly the military establishment, are attempting to weaken the most influential public movement in the region to prevent potential protests against the elections.
In response to the ban, the JAC called for a ‘wheel-jam strike’ on June 9, opposing the restrictions, the election announcement, and a judicial decision regarding reserved seats.
The report states that the issue of reserved seats is only one of the factors contributing to the current unrest. Rising inflation over the past two years has also been a significant cause of protests. The JAC has consistently leveraged public discontent over the increasing cost of living as a basis for its movement.
High electricity prices remain a particularly sensitive issue for the populace. Despite having vast hydropower resources in the region, locals feel they are not receiving adequate benefits from these resources.
According to the report, the current crisis in PoK underscores the limitations of Islamabad’s governance model and the weakening social contract in the region. Allegations of electoral interference, coupled with sharp increases in fuel and wheat prices, have strengthened the perception that remaining under federal governance has not yielded the expected benefits.
The report also notes that there has been widespread international opposition to the actions of the Pakistani administration. Notably, thousands from the Kashmiri diaspora marched through the streets of London to protest against the actions of Pakistani security forces.
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