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The protests, led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), have paralysed PoK over the past 72 hours
Protest erupts in PoK | AFP Image
At least eight civilians were killed on Wednesday amid a third consecutive day of violent protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) against the Pakistani government.
Four people died in Dhirkot, Bagh district, while two each were killed in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, according to sources.
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Two additional deaths were reported on Tuesday in Muzaffarabad, bringing the total fatalities over three days to 10.
The protests, led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), have paralysed PoK over the past 72 hours. Markets, shops, and local businesses have shut down, while transport services remain suspended.
This morning, demonstrators threw stones and toppled large shipping containers that had been placed on bridges to block their march on Muzaffarabad, sending the containers into the river below.
Visuals showed dozens of protesters pushing the containers off the bridge in a show of defiance.
The AAC’s long march continues despite a heavy security crackdown.
The group has issued 38 demands, including the abolition of 12 assembly seats in PoK reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which locals say undermines representative governance.
“Our campaign is for fundamental rights denied to our people for over 70 years. Either deliver on rights or face the wrath of the people,” AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir said.
He warned the administration of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Wednesday’s strike was only “Plan A,” signalling the patience of the populace has run out, with more severe measures, including a “Plan D,” in reserve.
In response, Islamabad has mounted a show of force.
Heavily armed patrols conducted flag marches through PoK towns, thousands of troops were rerouted from the neighbouring Punjab province, and an additional 1,000 personnel were dispatched from Islamabad.
Internet access has also been restricted in the region.
The protests come on the heels of a tragic incident last week, when 30 civilians were killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following airstrikes by Pakistan Air Force J-17 fighter jets using Chinese-made LS-6 laser-guided bombs.
Pakistan
October 01, 2025, 16:41 IST
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