Geneva, Dec 17: The United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) has strongly condemned prolonged power outages, dangerously low electricity voltage, and the continued breakdown of internet and mobile services across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The party expressed solidarity with the people of the region amid a shutter-down strike observed in Rawalakot town of Poonch district.
In a post on social media platform X, UKPNP spokesperson Sardar Nasir Aziz Khan said the people of PoK have been suffering for months due to extreme load shedding, erratic electricity supply, and severely disrupted communication services. “Daily life has become unbearable for ordinary citizens,” he said, blaming both local authorities and the government in Islamabad for what he termed “irresponsible and oppressive policies.”
The UKPNP alleged that unelected and unaccountable officers wield absolute power in PoK, with little regard for public welfare or democratic norms. According to the party, residents across PoK have been holding peaceful protests for over two and a half years under the banner of the Joint Awami Action Committee, demanding basic rights and essential services.
The party further claimed that instead of engaging with democratic demands, authorities resorted to brutal force to suppress the movement. It alleged that three people were killed during protests in Muzaffarabad in May 2024, followed by the deaths of twelve more protesters in October 2025. Alongside violence, the UKPNP accused the authorities of spreading propaganda, fabricated narratives, and misinformation to discredit the rights movement.
Despite these measures, the party said sustained public pressure eventually forced authorities in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad to accept several demands of the Joint Awami Action Committee. However, it alleged that the administration is now collectively punishing the population. While many parts of PoK face several hours of daily load shedding, the Poonch region reportedly suffers power cuts lasting 15 to 20 hours a day, along with extremely low voltage electricity, throttled internet speeds, and failing mobile networks.
The UKPNP highlighted the plight of Kashmiris living abroad, saying millions struggle to communicate with their families due to prolonged outages and poor connectivity. The party demanded immediate implementation of all agreements made by the government and called on the United Nations, European Parliament, the US, UK, and the international community to take serious note of the situation, warning that continued silence would worsen the humanitarian and political crisis in PoK and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan.
