ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, sanctioned approximately $82.6 million (Pak Rs 2,300cr) on Monday for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in an attempt to put an end to violent protests and strikes against rising taxes, flour prices, and energy rates. Ninety police officers have been injured in the previous few days as a result of the protests, leaving one police officer dead.
Pakistan’s military is facing a serious problem as a result of the increasing unrest; the military is heavily present in the area in order to protect the Line of Control with India.
Following a breakdown in talks with the government, demonstrators headed by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), an activist organization that has brought people together to demand cheaper prices for necessities, resumed their march to the regional seat of Muzaffarabad on Monday.
PM Sharif was forced to approve the PoK grant in a special meeting in Islamabad as a result of the impasse. Sharif was already under pressure to approve the postponement of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman’s significant visit to Pakistan later this month. Local ministries, prominent figures, and PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq of PoK attended the conference. PoK PM Haq announced price reductions for bread and energy after the meeting.
In the meanwhile, not all of the PoK’s cellphone and internet services that were suspended a day ago have been reinstated. Educational institutions, markets, commerce centers, and government offices were all closed.
While there haven’t been any demands for independence amid the present upheaval, residents claimed that the demonstrations were indicative of a broader unhappiness with Islamabad. Islamabad has already faced criticism for putting down regional groups calling for complete independence.
The current issue started on Friday when the AAC launched a strike in Muzaffarabad, which quickly became violent as protesters clashed with law officers. The disturbance was stoked by the arrest of more than 70 activists. Following the failure of negotiations between the AAC’s core committee and Dawood Bareach, the chief secretary of PoK, in Rawalakot, the movement declared its intention to march on Muzaffarabad.
Both PM Shehbaz and President Asif Ali Zardari called on everyone to use moderation and engage in constructive discourse in order to meet the demonstrators’ “genuine demands.”