Muzaffarabad: Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is witnessing unprecedented unrest as the Awami Action Committee (AAC) launched massive protests, bringing the region to a near standstill and challenging the Shehbaz Sharif government over long-denied fundamental rights.
The AAC, a coalition of civil society groups, traders, students, and local associations, has called for an indefinite “shutter-down and wheel-jam”, demanding the abolition of 12 legislative seats reserved for refugees, subsidised flour, fair electricity tariffs tied to the Mangla hydropower project, and the implementation of years-delayed governance reforms. Locals claim that reserved seats “undermine representative governance,” igniting widespread anger.
🚨 #POJK में पाक सरकार विरोधी प्रदर्शन हिंसक और बेकाबू.
⚡सुरक्षा बलों ने चलाई गोलियां तो स्थानीय लोगों ने भी कई इलाकों में सुरक्षा बलों को बंधक बनाया.
⚡महंगाई, करप्शन, शोषण और प्रताड़ना के खिलाफ बगावत 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6S6Xrz4oLQ— Madhurendra kumar मधुरेन्द्र कुमार (@Madhurendra13) September 29, 2025
Thousands flood the streets
Scenes of thousands marching through PoK cities have prompted authorities to deploy over 1,000 police from Islamabad and paramilitary rangers from Punjab. Landlines, mobile networks, and internet services have been shut down to contain digital mobilisation and prevent escalation.
AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir told reporters,
“Our campaign is not against any institution but for the fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years. Enough is enough. Either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people.”
Daily life at a standstill
Markets remain closed, public transport halted, and courts largely empty, reflecting public frustration over government neglect, corruption, and political patronage. Lawyers and civil society organisations have thrown their support behind the shutdown, calling it a legitimate democratic protest.
Security forces on high alert
The Pakistani administration has conducted flag marches and tightened security, warning that any attempt to disrupt public life will not be tolerated. Rights groups have raised concerns that the internet blackout and heavy-handed security presence could fuel further tensions.
With protests sweeping across PoK, experts warn that this movement could evolve into broader demands for autonomy, posing a serious challenge to the Shehbaz Sharif government’s control. All eyes remain on PoK as September 29 unfolds, with uncertainty looming over the region’s stability.
