Islamabad, Oct 1: Violent clashes and widespread demonstrations rocked several districts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday, as protests led by the Jammu & Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JKAAC) intensified. The situation remains highly volatile with reports of casualties, injuries, and mass mobilisations across the region.
Convoys of JKAAC members from Rawalakot and Mirpur reached the Dadyal entry point in Kotli, where local authorities attempted to halt their movement by placing containers on the Palak Bridge. Protesters, however, removed the barricades and continued their march towards Muzaffarabad, the regional capital.
In Muzaffarabad’s Lal Chowk, clashes escalated when Pakistani police opened fire on protesters, killing two and injuring several others. Similar unrest was reported from Bagh, where locals reportedly captured several Punjab Police personnel during violent confrontations.
Meanwhile, in Rawalakot, a massive public gathering witnessed slogans demanding ownership of Kashmir’s natural resources. Ironically, the town—once known as a hub of anti-India militant activities under the patronage of Pakistan’s ISI—is now emerging as a center of resistance against Pakistan’s own state policies.
The JKAAC leadership has issued a strong warning, demanding the immediate restoration of mobile services and threatening to dismantle communication towers if their demands are ignored. The group has also released a 38-point charter of demands, including the abolition of 12 reserved seats for refugees and withdrawal of privileges enjoyed by the political elite.
Videos circulating on social media showed heavy convoys of security forces moving into Muzaffarabad, raising fears of an imminent crackdown. Citizens were also seen chanting slogans calling for freedom from Pakistan’s control, reflecting growing discontent over political repression, economic exploitation, and excessive force by Pakistani authorities.
The protests are expected to intensify further, as JKAAC has urged people from all PoK districts to converge on Muzaffarabad.
