Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) remained gripped by unrest on Wednesday as more than 1.5 lakh people reportedly joined anti-government demonstrations, a day after a security crackdown left 11 civilians dead. The protests, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee, have emerged as one of the most significant challenges to Pakistan's authority in the region in recent years. As public anger intensified, Pakistani authorities escalated their response by filing sedition cases against protest leaders, announcing a reward of 10 million Pakistani rupees (approximately Rs 1 crore) for information leading to the arrest of four key organisers, and blocking major roads to prevent demonstrators from reaching Muzaffarabad.
The latest phase of the agitation follows violent clashes that began on June 5 over rising electricity tariffs, soaring wheat prices and broader economic hardships faced by residents. What initially started as demonstrations over inflation and governance issues quickly evolved into a larger movement against Islamabad's administration and the Pakistani military establishment. Tensions reached a breaking point on June 8 when security forces allegedly opened fire on protesters, triggering widespread outrage across the region and leading to renewed calls for greater political rights and accountability.
The protests are being coordinated by the Joint Awami Action Committee, a civil society alliance that Pakistani authorities banned last week. Despite the ban, the organisation has continued mobilising large crowds across several districts. Demonstrations were reported from Rawalakot, Bagh, Hattian Bala, Kotli, Mirpur, Sudhnoti, Dhirkot, Dadyal and Muzaffarabad. Protesters carrying banners and sticks marched through towns and villages, demanding action on a list of 38 demands that include economic relief, improved governance, employment opportunities and greater political representation.
Organisers have announced plans for major protest caravans from different parts of POK to converge in Rawalakot before proceeding towards Muzaffarabad. The proposed march is intended to pressure authorities into accepting the movement's demands and addressing what protesters describe as decades of neglect and suppression. Local groups claim that more than 100 people were injured during recent clashes, while internet services have reportedly been disrupted in several areas as part of the government's efforts to control the situation.
Instead of opening negotiations, authorities have intensified enforcement measures. Along with sedition charges and monetary rewards for protest leaders, officials have accused several organisers of acting as agents of India, a charge frequently levelled against critics of the Pakistani establishment. Protesters have rejected these allegations, arguing that they are being used to delegitimise a grassroots movement focused on local grievances. Authorities have also attempted to prevent the mobilisation by blocking key highways and access routes. Protesters claim that trees were deliberately cut down and placed across roads to stop convoys from advancing towards Muzaffarabad.
Addressing a large gathering, protest leader Sardar Aman Khan accused Pakistan's military and political establishment of branding ordinary citizens as terrorists simply for demanding basic rights. He argued that residents seeking better healthcare, affordable food, employment and public services were being met with force rather than dialogue. His remarks reflected a broader sentiment among demonstrators that the state has responded to legitimate grievances with repression instead of reforms.
India has strongly criticised the crackdown and condemned the reported deaths of civilians. New Delhi described the incident as evidence of Pakistan's failure to protect the rights of people living in territories under its control and called on the international community to take note of the developments. Indian officials also urged Pakistan to respect fundamental rights and engage with the concerns being raised by the people of POK.
With public anger continuing to grow and organisers pressing ahead with plans for a large march on Muzaffarabad, the situation remains highly volatile. The coming days are expected to determine whether Pakistan's authorities choose dialogue and political engagement or continue with a strategy centred on restrictions, arrests and security measures. The scale of participation and the intensity of the protests have already transformed the unrest into one of the most serious political crises faced by Islamabad in the region in recent years.
