Shutdown Grips PoJK as JAAC Protest Call Empties Markets, Streets
Authorities announce bounty on protest leaders; legal fraternity joins agitation over lawyer’s arrest
Islamabad, Jun 10: A widespread shutdown was observed across several areas of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on Tuesday following a protest call by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), as tensions continued to escalate after recent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
According to BBC Urdu, around 2,000 JAAC supporters began a protest march from Bhimber and are expected to travel through Mirpur before heading to Muzaffarabad. Another group of protesters is reportedly moving from Rawalakot towards the regional capital. Security personnel remained deployed across major routes and sensitive locations to monitor the situation.
Normal life was severely affected in several towns. Reports indicated that markets remained shut and traffic was largely absent from roads. In Muzaffarabad, streets wore a deserted look as police and paramilitary forces maintained a heavy presence, though no major demonstrations were reported in the city.
Hundreds of people gathered at Mirpur’s Quaid-i-Azam Stadium in response to the protest call. Local journalists reported a near-complete halt in commercial activity, reflecting the impact of the agitation across the region.
The legal community also joined the protest movement, with lawyers boycotting court proceedings at the call of the Bar Council over the alleged detention of senior advocate Amjad Ali Khan, a prominent JAAC member.
The rights situation has drawn attention as Pakistan’s human rights body expressed concern over the continuing unrest and violence in the region.
In a significant move, authorities announced a reward of Rs 10 million for information leading to the arrest of key JAAC leaders, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Omar Nazir Kashmiri, Sardar Aman and Khawaja Mehran. Officials said the identities of informants would remain confidential.
Amid the standoff, PoJK’s Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore appealed for dialogue to resolve the crisis. Stressing the need for negotiations, he said contentious issues, including the demand for the abolition of 12 refugee-reserved seats in the Legislative Assembly, should be addressed through discussion rather than confrontation.
JAAC has been spearheading a campaign seeking economic relief measures and political reforms, with the refugee-seat issue emerging as one of its principal demands.
