Pakistan, often accusing India of human rights violations, faces backlash as its own forces use excessive force to suppress protests.
2 min read 2024-05-14, 09:20 PM IST
In Short⇒ 1947 Partition: PoK, also known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), emerged from the partition of British India. ⇒ Invasion and Accession: Tribal militias from Pakistan invaded; Maharaja Hari Singh acceded to India. ⇒ Indo-Pakistani War 1947-48: War led to UN-brokered ceasefire and establishment of the Line of Control (LoC). ⇒ Limited Autonomy: PoK has its own government, but real power often lies with Pakistan’s central government and military. ⇒ Local Unrest: Frequent protests and movements for greater autonomy and independence due to political disenfranchisement. ⇒ Underdevelopment: Despite natural resources, PoK struggles with lack of investment and economic development. ⇒ Economic Grievances: High electricity tariffs and rising costs of essentials like wheat and fuel cause widespread frustration. ⇒ Restrictions and Repression: Reports of restricted freedoms, enforced disappearances, and excessive use of force by security forces. ⇒ Trigger: Protests began after the arrest of JAAC activists on May 9. ⇒ Violent Clashes: Clashes resulted in deaths and injuries; significant unrest in various areas of PoK. ⇒ Government Response: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a 23 billion Pakistani Rupee relief package to quell protests. ⇒ Grievances: Protests reflect deep-seated issues with economic disparities and political marginalization. ⇒ Tensions: Unrest in PoK is part of the broader geopolitical conflict between India and Pakistan. ⇒ Local Demands: Protesters seek economic relief, political rights, and greater autonomy. |
New Delhi: The contrast could not have been more stark. While Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest voting percentage for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections at 37.98%—the highest since 1996—the situation in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) was markedly different. Since May 9, Kashmiris in PoK have been protesting against what they perceive as neglect and unfair treatment by Islamabad. The immediate cause of these protests was the nighttime raids and arrests of activists from the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) on the night of May 8-9.(also read: India general elections 2024).
Although the violent protests have since been called off following an announcement by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of a relief package worth 23 billion Pakistani Rupees on Monday, the unrest signals a significant warning for Islamabad. Economic disparities between the relatively prosperous Srinagar Valley and the increasingly frustrated populace in PoK are becoming more pronounced.
Despite attempts by Pakistani and Western media to downplay the violence in PoK, the protests were widespread, affecting areas such as Samahni, Sehansa, Mirpur, Dadyal, Rawalakot, Khuiratta, Tattapani, and Hattian Bala. It is reported that at least 70 JAAC activists were arrested, sparking violent clashes between police and protesters. These confrontations resulted in the deaths of one police officer and three civilians, with over 100 people seriously injured.(also read: Iranian President Raisi Embarks on Three-Day Diplomatic Visit to Pakistan).
The JAAC, a socio-political organization representing traders, transporters, and lawyers, has been leading the protests in PoK. The rising costs of food (particularly wheat), fuel, and electricity have been major points of contention. The JAAC had planned a ‘Long March’ to Muzaffarabad on May 11, which Islamabad attempted to prevent with the raids and arrests on May 8-9. During the protests, demonstrators set three vehicles belonging to the Pakistan Rangers on fire, chanting anti-Pakistan and pro-independence slogans. In response, the government shut down internet services for a week and closed schools and businesses.
Pakistani paramilitary forces were accused of using excessive force to suppress the protests, with activists alleging human rights violations. The situation escalated to the point where Prime Minister Sharif had to personally appeal for peace and ultimately accede to the protesters’ demands for subsidized electricity and fuel. Alongside the local police, Islamabad deployed three battalions of Pakistan Rangers from Kohala and additional Army units.
Despite Pakistani authorities blaming India for instigating the protests, discontent has been brewing in Rawalakot and other areas of PoK since May 2023. Activists have been protesting against both provincial and federal government policies, particularly the rising prices of electricity and wheat flour. This unrest led to a widespread boycott and refusal to pay electricity bills. Electricity charges in PoK are reportedly five times the production costs, causing deep resentment among the local population.
The protesters have outlined several demands
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The provincial government had initially agreed to these demands in February 2024, following a strike call in September 2023. Ironically, this agreement came just before February 5, which Islamabad propagandists celebrate as Kashmir Solidarity Day. The unrest and subsequent concessions underscore the deep-seated issues and dissatisfaction within PoK, posing a significant challenge for Islamabad.
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⇒Historical Background
The region known as Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), referred to by Pakistan as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), has been a focal point of conflict between India and Pakistan since the partition of British India in 1947. The princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was then ruled by Maharaja Hari Singh, who faced an invasion by tribal militias from Pakistan in October 1947. In response to the invasion, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, joining India and prompting Indian military intervention to defend the territory.
The subsequent Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-48 ended with a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations, which established the Line of Control (LoC) that still divides the region today. The ceasefire agreement left parts of the princely state under Pakistani control, known as Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, collectively referred to by India as Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Political Context
Since its establishment, PoK has had a unique political status. It is administered by Pakistan but has its own government and president. However, real power often resides with the Pakistani central government and the military, leading to allegations of limited autonomy and influence for local leaders.
PoK has been the site of numerous protests and movements for greater autonomy and independence, often driven by dissatisfaction with Pakistani governance, economic conditions, and political disenfranchisement. This unrest is compounded by the perception that Islamabad’s policies favor the interests of Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, at the expense of the residents of PoK.
Socio-Economic Issues
Economically, PoK has struggled with underdevelopment and lack of investment. Despite its natural resources, such as hydroelectric potential from the Mangla Dam, local populations often feel that they do not reap the benefits. High electricity tariffs, despite local power generation, and rising costs of basic necessities like wheat and fuel have been persistent issues, sparking widespread frustration and protest.
Human Rights Concerns
There have been numerous reports of human rights violations in PoK, including restrictions on freedom of speech and assembly, enforced disappearances, and excessive use of force by security forces. Activists and political groups have often been targeted for speaking out against the government, contributing to a climate of fear and repression.
Current Unrest
The recent protests beginning on May 9, 2024, mark another chapter in the ongoing struggle of PoK residents against what they see as systemic neglect and exploitation by Islamabad. Triggered by the arrests of JAAC activists, these protests quickly escalated due to deep-seated grievances over economic disparities and political marginalization. The violent suppression of these protests by Pakistani forces and the subsequent concessions by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlight the fragile and volatile situation in the region.
This historical context underscores the complexity of the Kashmir issue, where local demands for rights and resources intersect with broader geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. The recent violence in PoK is not an isolated incident but part of a long history of unrest and contention over the region’s future.
