Rawalakote, Oct 2: At least 10 people, including three police personnel, were killed and over 50 civilians injured on Wednesday as protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) escalated during the “Long March to Muzaffarabad”.
The march, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), drew participants from Rawalakote, Bagh, Neelam, Jehlum, and other regions. JAAC accused Brigadier Faiq of ordering forces to open fire on civilians.
Eyewitnesses reported that a “peace rally” led by Muslim Conference leader Raja Saqib Majeed fired upon JKJAAC supporters near Neelum Bridge on Monday. Victims included a shopkeeper killed by bullets and another injured by shrapnel. Protesters also alleged police and paramilitary forces used live ammunition and tear gas.
The protests, which began over subsidised flour and electricity, have grown into a broader movement demanding political and economic reforms. JKJAAC’s 38-point charter includes ending reserved assembly seats for refugees, rolling back elite privileges, judicial reforms, tax relief, road projects, free education and healthcare, and ending job quotas for refugees.
Rallies were reported in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Sudhnoti, and Bhimber, with leaders calling for continued demonstrations. The unrest has disrupted daily life, with internet and mobile services suspended and businesses closed.
The violence reflects growing public anger over governance, economic hardship, and entrenched privileges in PoJK. (Agencies)
