Rebellion erupts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir against Shehbaz Sharif's govt, thousands march against atrocities

Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is witnessing one of its largest protests in recent years, as the Awami Action Committee (AAC) launched widespread demonstrations across the region on Monday.

The group’s call for a “shutter-down and wheel-jam” strike, which could continue indefinitely, has escalated tensions. In response, Islamabad has deployed security forces in large numbers and cut internet access from midnight to curb mobilisation.

Why are people protesting against Pakistan govt?

Tensions are rising in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) after the Neelum Valley Public Action Committee leader, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, announced a complete shutdown of the entire region to press for public demands.


The call has triggered widespread debate, as the PoJK government has vowed to crush the movement with force if it proceeds.

Shaukat Nawaz Mir, speaking on behalf of the Public Action Committee, warned that the people's patience has reached its limit and that the shutdown is a direct response to years of government neglect and corruption. He argued that citizens are deprived of fundamental rights, including proper healthcare, education, infrastructure, and clean water, while resources are wasted on political patronage and bribery.

The government's declaration that it will use force against protesters has further fuelled public anger. Local lawyers have thrown their weight behind the Public Action Committee, calling the shutdown a democratic right and urging the government to address the people's grievances rather than respond with suppression.

"Public demands must be met, not crushed," a senior lawyer in Muzaffarabad stated, adding that the legal community would stand in solidarity with the protestors.

The strike, across PoJK, is expected to paralyse normal life, with shops, markets, and transport likely to remain closed. Civil societies argue that the use of force could escalate tensions and lead to unrest. Many see the government's hardline stance as an attempt to silence dissent rather than resolve pressing issues.

Public Action Committees across different districts have been mobilising residents, with growing calls for accountability, transparency in fund allocation, and the abolition of corrupt practices tied to reserved seats and local governance schemes.

All eyes remain on PoJK, where the confrontation between the government and the people appears to be intensifying. Observers believe that the shutdown will test the political leadership's ability to handle dissent peacefully or risk a deeper crisis in the region.

UKPNP asks for global attention

The United Kashmir People's National Party has issued an urgent international appeal following the shutdown of internet and phone services across Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to the UKPNP press release, this communication blackout is a deliberate move by Pakistani authorities to silence peaceful dissent and isolate the region from the global community amid growing unrest. According to the statement, the blackout coincides with a major protest movement led by the Joint Awami Action Committee, which has called for a complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Monday. Protesters are demanding basic rights, economic justice, and an end to decades of political repression.

UKPNP warns that Pakistan has deployed paramilitary Rangers and additional security forces across the region, raising serious concerns about the possibility of a violent crackdown. The party drew attention to the tragic events of 13 May 2024, when Rangers opened fire on peaceful demonstrators in Muzaffarabad, killing three civilians. That incident, they noted, remains uninvestigated and exemplifies the systemic impunity enjoyed by security forces operating in the area. The party emphasised that the ongoing situation is not just a local protest, but part of a long-standing humanitarian and political crisis stemming from the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir, a conflict that has remained on the UN agenda since 1948.

In its appeal, UKPNP called upon the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and other international actors to intervene immediately to prevent further violence. The party stressed that the people of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan continue to be denied their fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of movement, ownership of local resources, and the right to self-governance. UKPNP concluded by urging the international community to listen to the voices of the people of PoJK and PoGB, who have waited since 1947 for justice and dignity.