Pakistani forces allegedly opened fire at peaceful protestor in Muzaffarabad and other parts of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. Over six people have been killed since the demonstrations, demanding the Self-Rule Charter of Demands, began on September 29, news agency ANI reported citing sources on Wednesday.Videos of the incident surfaced online, showing Pakistani Rangers moving in to take control of the streets amid growing unrest. In the footage, security personnel could be seen firing tear gas shells. Mobile, internet, and landline services have been completely shut down, isolating residents from their families and heightening anxiety within local communities.Protesters attempting to march toward Muzaffarabad faced strict restrictions, including sealed roads and suspended communications. In Dudyal, Mirpur, the Action Committee refused to bury a protester’s body until authorities met their demands, while security forces cleared bridges to block the march. Large rallies organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee in Mirpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad highlighted growing unity and frustration over government inaction.

What sparked the protests?

The protests, which began two years ago, were initially sparked by demands for a regular and subsidised supply of flour and electricity in the region. Over time, the movement has expanded to include a broader range of issues, such as reducing the privileges of the Kashmiri elite, abolishing reserved assembly seats, and securing free education and healthcare. Activists say the renewed demonstrations are driven by the government’s failure to fully implement the agreement reached with protesters two years ago, prompting widespread frustration across local communities. The protesters have now presented a 38-point charter of demands, highlighting key issues such as ending the 12 reserved seats for refugees, rolling back elite privileges, completing road construction projects, providing tax relief, continuing subsidies on flour and electricity, and reforming the judiciary. The protests have drawn large crowds, with hundreds gathering at Muzaffarabad’s Lal Chowk, where JAC leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, addressed the demonstrators and reinforced the call for government action on their longstanding demands.Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir National Alliance, Mahmood Kashmiri, accused Pakistan of militarising PoK, claiming that troops were stationed at key entry points and weapons were being distributed to civilians. He warned that these actions were heightening tensions and threatening peaceful resistance in the region.He issued a stern ultimatum to Islamabad, calling for the withdrawal of Pakistani troops from PoK to ensure. He also demanded an immediate stop to what he described as “plans to kill” peaceful citizens. “We will not tolerate any form of hooliganism or mischief here under any circumstances,” he warned.