By Admin 
At least 12 civilians have died due to security forces being shot at protesters in Pakistan-promoted Kashmir (POK). The region has been facing the biggest protests in recent years. These demonstrations started against not meeting 38 major demands of the government, but now it has turned into a broad movement against arbitrary and other atrocities of the army.
On Thursday, the protest entered its third day. There was a clash between the protesters and the army in Dadiyal, while the government deployed thousands of additional soldiers to control the situation. Apart from Muzaffarabad, the violence has spread to Rawalakot, Neelam Valley and Kotli.
Meeting of Joint Awami Action Committee
Chaudhary Anwarul Haq and Federal Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary on Wednesday invited the United Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to negotiate to establish peace between the protesters and the government. According to reports, 5 protesters were shot dead in Muzaffarabad, 5 in Dhirkot and 2 in Dadiyal. Apart from this, at least 3 policemen have also been killed. More than 200 people have been injured, many of whom are in critical condition.
The demonstration is being led by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (AAC), and due to this, life has stopped in the entire PoK. The main reason for this movement is the demand to abolish 12 assembly seats, which are reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. Other demands include tax relief, flour and subsidy on electricity, and development projects.
Markets, shops closed from September 29
Markets, shops and local businesses are closed since 29 September. Mobile, internet and landline services are also completely closed. Thousands of people are demonstrating, throwing stones and dropping large containers, which were tried to stop march by putting on bridges.
In other cities, despite the security arrangements, the protesters took out marches and raised slogans like “Rulers, Beware, We Are Your Doom” and “Kashmir is Ors, we will decide its fate”. This is the first time that PoK citizens are directly targeting the Pakistani government and the army.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the government is ready to solve the issues and a dialogue committee has been formed to establish peace. He also directed to take restraint with the protesters.
Also, the United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP) spokesman Nasir Aziz Khan appealed to the United Nations and the international community for immediate intervention. He said that human rights crisis can arise in PoK and member countries should take action under their international agreements. Prior to this development, 30 civilians were killed in the airstrikes of Pakistan Air Force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, causing this tension to increase further.
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