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Sources said that subsidies and local governance are the immediate triggers; the protests reflect decades of simmering resentment over Islamabad’s policies.
Situation is volatile and Islamabad has deployed 1,000 Punjab police plus Rangers reinforcements. (File)
A massive wave of anti-government protests is set to rock Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Monday, as thousands of civilians, under the banner of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), prepare for a region-wide lockdown and wheel jam.
As per intelligence sources, these protests are seen as the largest grassroots civilian mobilisation in PoK in decades — a rare show of unity that cuts across ethnic and class divides.
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Meanwhile, the Shehbaz Sharif-led government has deployed over 1,000 police personnel from Islamabad, alongside paramilitary rangers reinforcements from Punjab province, to maintain law and order.
The internet would be shut down across the PoK from midnight, in what rights groups say is an attempt to suppress digital mobilisation. As per intelligence sources, PoK diaspora communities in the UK, US, and EU are likely to amplify protest images and testimonies through alternative channels.
AAC’s 38-Point Charter
At the heart of the unrest is a 38-point charter of demands put forth by the organisation. The charter calls for reforms, including:
- Abolition of 12 Assembly Seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan, which the AAC says distorts local representation and allows Islamabad undue control over PoK’s politics.
- Renegotiation of Hydropower Agreements to ensure that local communities benefit from electricity generated at Mangla and Neelum-Jhelum dams.
- Immediate Flour Subsidies to counter rising inflation.
- Power Tariffs linked to local generation rates, a move that would reduce energy bills for residents.
Despite promises made by Islamabad last year, many of these demands remain unfulfilled. With growing disillusionment, the AAC has called for a complete “shutter-down and wheel-jam” protest across the region starting Monday — with the option to continue indefinitely if their demands are not met, sources said.
Sources said that subsidies and local governance are the immediate triggers; the protests reflect decades of simmering resentment over Islamabad’s policies. Despite generating massive amounts of electricity through hydropower projects like Mangla Dam and Neelum-Jhelum, PoK suffers from frequent power cuts and economic stagnation.
Fear of Escalation
Security sources in Islamabad are reportedly alarmed at the potential for the protests to escalate into broader demands for Azadi (freedom) from Pakistan. The AAC’s challenge to the proxy-democracy setup, particularly its demand to eliminate refugee-reserved assembly seats, is viewed as a direct threat to the political architecture Pakistan has used to control Muzaffarabad.
Sources say that the situation remains volatile and fluid. If Islamabad resorts to violent suppression, as feared, the PoK region could witness youth radicalisation against Pakistan itself, shifting the theatre of instability away from Kashmir towards Pakistan-controlled areas.
Spiral of resentment, possible indefinite lockdowns, and diaspora-led international campaigns against Pakistan are expected if the protests turn violent.
About the Author
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18
Islamabad, Pakistan
September 28, 2025, 23:55 IST
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