Islamabad witnessed a fervent protest on Saturday, December 2, as the Awami Workers Party of Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (POGB) and students gathered outside the Islamabad Press Club. The demonstration aimed to denounce the cessation of the wheat subsidy and the encroachment of resources in the region. The call for action was echoed by the Gilgit-Baltistan Social Society and students, urging collective participation.

The protest shed light on persisting injustices and oppression in POGB under Pakistan’s occupation. These acts, for instance, range from the forceful acquisition of public lands to the seizure of regional resources, depriving locals of subsidies, a move deemed in violation of international laws.

Amidst this, the Awami Workers Party and the Awami Action Committee have been vocal about these crucial public issues, despite the occupant government’s aversion to their discourse.Discussing public concerns and asserting rights in the occupied region of Gilgit-Baltistan has long been considered a punishable offense, instilling fear in those raising their voices.

The public outcry vehemently asserts that the subsidy rightfully belongs to the local population, emphasizing it as a fundamental entitlement rather than a benevolent gesture from the Pakistani state. Concerns loom over the potential repercussions of terminating the subsidy, raising alarms about the grave consequences it might entail.

In a recent development, six individuals have been apprehended in connection to the heinous attack on a Rawalpindi-bound passenger bus in the Chilas area of Pak-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district. The incident claimed the lives of at least nine people and left 21 passengers injured after assailants fired upon the bus from nearby hills on Saturday, leading to a collision with a goods truck.

Transport services from Rawalpindi to Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB) districts have been suspended as a precautionary measure, with transporters demanding comprehensive security arrangements for both vehicles and passengers.

The occupying government officials emphasize that this was not a sectarian attack but rather a terrorist act targeting individuals from diverse backgrounds. Home Minister of the occupying government Shams Lone highlighted the rejection of such violence by the people of Diamer and assured stringent actions against the perpetrators.

Accordingly, the traffic has been on the Karakoram Highway (KKH). However, convoys of vehicles, escorted by occupying forces, have been permitted to pass through Diamer during the day.

Meanwhile protests have erupted in various areas, prompting security alerts and a temporary suspension of travel along the KKH. Transport associations have demanded enhanced security for vehicles on this route, emphasizing the occurrence of similar incidents in the past. Local Kashmiris are demanding an investigation and justice for the people who lost their life to this tragic incident.

Nonetheless, some people also say that the bus attack was aimed at weakening and destroying the recent wheat subsidy movement and the public unity of POGB.

Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (POGB) once again observed a complete shutdown and protest against the oppression of the occupier Pakistan. After the unsuccessful negotiations between the Awami Action Committee of POGB and the occupying government, the committee called a complete shutdown on December 1 and observed a huge protest across the region.

Awami Action Committee which has been at the forefront of the struggle against the Pakistani oppression is raising various issues that are crucial for the existence of the region and its people’s identity. Recently, Pakistan raised the price of wheat by about 7 times in six months. The wheat price, which was Pak Rs. 7.5 per kg initially, was increased to Pak Rs. 20 per kg in June and then to Pak Rs. 52 per kg recently. Later, the occupying government, operating exclusively on the orders of Pakistan, imposed a targeted subsidy in the name of easing financial burden that excluded various people of the region. This led to further aggravated differences and increased friction.

But as the negotiations failed and did not end in a fruitful outcome, Awami Action Committee has once again resorted to the protests. Accordingly, they have empasised on the Charter of Demand, a long standing righteous demand that Pakistan is trying to neglect.

Demands of Awami Action Committee

The Awami Action Committee is demanding to roll back the price rise on wheat and target subsidy. Among the various demands that the committee has put forward, one is related to CPEC. As per them, CPEC passes through the POGB for which lands of natives have been acquired rendering them economically vulnerable. And hence, they should be given royalty. Regarding the hike in tax, the committee claims that POGB is a disputed territory, so there should not be any kind of tax imposition. It argues that being a disputed territory which has its own constitution, the imposition of Federal laws is against the status of POGB.

Protestors of the action committee also questioned the exploitation of POGB resources at the hands of Pakistan. The Awami Action Committee also demanded a share of the electricity generated at the Diamar Dam for the local population. Protestors suggest that it is their resources, which are being exploited to fulfill the power demands of Pakistan. Instead of giving them their genuine share back, be it in the form of electricity or share in the profits, Pakistan is turning back on them leaving them deprived.

Among all these demands there is also an issue regarding the land laws. Pakistan is using its laws as pretext in acquiring the land, mountains, which solely belongs to the people of POGB.

Kashmiris realising the reality

Amidst the protest, the calls of moving towards Kargil were also made in some parts of the protests.

Actually, Pakistan exploited the region and kept them in delusion that they are free, and it is India that has occupied the rest of the region. But because of digitisation and internet access to the people, they have come to know that free people reside across the border, and they have been manipulated and are kept deprived for more than seven decades.

Therefore, the people in POGB were agitated for a long time. Pakistan’s filthy tactics, oppressive governance, and illegal occupation ahs only exacerbated the situation.