Pakistan Economy: Following a call by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) for significant demonstrations against rising inflation, load-shedding, a recent police crackdown, and other grievances, protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) intensified on Saturday in a number of regions.
Wheel-Jam and Shutter-Down Strike in Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoJK, experienced dissent when a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike brought the city to a standstill. During these demonstrations, a number of videos featuring demonstrators yelling “Pakistan se lenge Azadi” surfaced on X, the former Twitter.
Escalation of Protests into Violence
On Friday, anti-inflation protests in the nation’s capital, Muzaffarabad, descended into violence as police repressed protesters. Normal activities were paralyzed by a wheel-jam and shutter-down strike, bringing the city to a complete stop.
One of the movement’s key figures, Shaukat Nawaz Mir, came close to being arrested before becoming a prominent voice, speaking at events all over the town and reiterating their resolve to carry on the fight.
Demands of the Awami Action Committee
The protest was organized by the Awami Action Committee, which demanded subsidies for wheat flour and tax-free electricity from the Mangla Dam. Police raids during the night that resulted in the arrest of multiple leaders and activists served as the impetus for the strike.
Law enforcement and demonstrators clashed in Muzaffarabad, Dadyal, Mirpur, and other areas of PoJK. There are reports that the security forces in Pakistan used excessive force against protestors who were peaceful. It has been reported that unarmed civilians exercising their right to protest were met with tear gas and gunfire.