Two killed, 22 injured in violent clashes in PoJK
MUZAFFARABAD, Sept 29: Two people were killed and 22 others injured today after violent clashes broke out during protests against the Pakistan Government in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK).
According to sources, armed groups backed by the Pakistan army and the ISI-linked Muslim Conference opened fire on civilians demanding basic rights.
Videos shared by Pakistani news channels showed men firing in the air, protesters climbing cars, and demonstrators displaying spent bullet shells, underlining the chaos on the streets.
The protests, led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), have sparked a shutdown across PoJK in the past 24 hours, with markets, shops, transport, and local businesses closed.
Demonstrators have raised 38 demands, including the abolition of 12 seats in the PoJK Assembly reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which they say undermines local representation.
The crisis deepened after marathon talks between AAC leaders, PoJK authorities, and Federal Ministers collapsed following 13 hours of negotiations.
The AAC refused to compromise on removing elite privileges and refugee Assembly seats, declaring the talks “incomplete and inconclusive” and vowing to continue the shutdown.
In response, Islamabad has deployed 1,000 additional police personnel from the capital to reinforce local forces.
District Magistrate Mudasser Farooq said that peace is the shared responsibility of citizens and the administration, warning against disruption of public life.
Traders in Muzaffarabad had kept shops open a day earlier to allow residents to stock up on essentials before the shutdown.
Videos circulating online showed convoys of security forces entering the city, fuelling fears of a crackdown. Protesters were also heard raising slogans for freedom from Pakistani occupation.
Despite restrictions, including an internet blackout, AAC leaders have maintained that demonstrations will remain peaceful but firm.
With neither side showing signs of backing down, tensions in PoJK remain high, raising concerns of a larger confrontation. (Agencies)