In a powerful display of resistance, citizens across Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) have risen against an oppressive presidential ordinance that curtails basic democratic rights. Protests and demonstrations are planned for Khai Gala and Tarar Khal, Kotli on Thursday and Rawalakot on Friday. Sardar Sagheer Khan and Sardar Aman Kashmiri, burned copies of the ordinance and FIRs at Kacheri Chowk, decrying it as a tool of tyranny wielded by the Paki establishment and its local collaborators.
The ordinance, described as a “black law,” has sparked widespread outrage for its draconian measures that restrict peaceful gatherings and criminalize dissent. Under this repressive policy, participants in unauthorized protests face up to seven years in prison, immediate detention, and heavy fines. Even registered political parties and unions must obtain prior approval from Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to stage protests, submitting detailed plans about participants and venues. The sweeping powers granted to DCs allow them to arbitrarily declare “Red Zones” and “High-Security Zones,” effectively outlawing demonstrations in key areas.
Rawalakot has become the epicenter of resistance, with traders shutting down shops in solidarity and the city coming to a standstill as protesters defy the ordinance. Police retaliation has been severe, with peaceful demonstrators subjected to baton charges and violent dispersals. The heavy-handed response has drawn sharp criticism, as occupied-state terrorism aimed at silencing those who dare to challenge the occupying authority.
The outrage has been further fueled by the extensive powers granted under the ordinance, which is designed to quash any form of dissent in POJK. Public gatherings are not only heavily restricted but also subject to extreme scrutiny, with the law banning even symbolic acts of resistance such as the carrying of sticks or delivering impassioned speeches. These measures have little to do with maintaining law and order and are instead a deliberate strategy to suppress the voices of the Kashmiri people.