Instead of joyous Eid celebrations, the streets of Tarrakhal city echoed with defiant protests on Tuesday and Wednesday as locals rallied against Pakistan’s oppressive occupation policies in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protesters, organized under the banner of the Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), demanded the unconditional release of all detainees arrested during massive anti-Pakistan demonstrations in Muzaffarabad in May.
Raising slogans against the heavy-handed crackdown, the JKJAAC leadership also called for the removal of Tourism Minister Faheem Rabbani, for inciting violence and terrorism against the Kashmiri people.
Since May, POJK has witnessed widespread civil unrest, with diverse groups including students, lawyers, and political activists taking to the streets.
What began as protests against wheat flour subsidies quickly escalated into a broader movement denouncing inflated electricity bills, illegal taxation imposed by Islamabad, and the overall suppression of political rights in the disputed region.
Pakistan has responded to the civilian uprising with force, carrying out mass arrests and attempting to quash the protests through intimidation tactics.