Kashmiris-Begging for Their Rights
People of Azad Kashmir are on the streets, chanting slogans for their fundamental rights and against the policies of the current State government. Social media is heavily drawing attention to the problems, even though the mainstream media is not delving into this matter.
Despite the government’s notice in February 2024, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has declared a long march on May 11 in response to the government’s failure to meet their fundamental demands. The primary demands of the Joint Action Committee (JAAC) are: a decrease in electricity bills, as the State administration raised per unit charges by manifold despite, the State’s production costs are less than 3 PKR because of its sole reliance on hydropower facilities. Their other demands, which seem reasonable, include: wheat price subsidies, worries about the extension of ministers’ burden on the exchequer, and the appointment of native officers to top bureaucratic positions in order to maintain Azad Kashmir’s internal autonomy.
The problem has been exacerbated by the myopic and the authoritative mind-set of the policy makers. The government has detained JAAC members and utilized brutal force against protestors instead of reaching out to the public through discussion, which has increased tension and made it ubiquitous. To maintain peace and security, the Federal government has deployed paramilitary and Punjab Police forces into action as per the demand of the incumbent Government of Azad Kashmir.
The world community, especially India, is utilizing these uprisings against Pakistan in the international media by accusing Pakistan of employing harsh force against the defenceless Kashmiri people who are fighting for their liberation from Pakistan. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, both the Federal and State government need to resolve the issues amicably by bringing JAAC on board. Authorities have to absolve their grievances, the sooner the better, otherwise, Pakistan has to face the consequences in the future.
