Phones are down, roads are deserted and 3,000 troops are deployed…why is there chaos in PoK?

International News: The government-to-local conflict in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has escalated into a strike. The local Public Action Committee announced an indefinite strike starting September 29th, with the effects beginning Monday morning. Mobile internet service has been banned throughout PoK. Military forces have been deployed on the streets. Schools and colleges have been shut down due to the shutdown.

According to BBC Urdu, the Public Action Committee held a meeting with the government on September 25th. At this meeting, the committee presented its demands to the government. They demanded that the local government in PoK be empowered and that the VIP system be abolished.

What demands are the protests being held for?

The movement began over the price of flour, but gradually escalated into a rebellion. According to local media, the Kashmir Joint Citizens Committee submitted a list of 38 demands to the government. These include the abolition of the 12 assembly seats reserved for expatriates, the allowances for prominent figures in the PoK administration, and an end to VIP culture.

One of the protesters' demands is regarding the hydroelectric project. They say the government is not paying royalties for the project, which is unfair. They demand immediate arrangements for this. However, the government has expressed its inability to meet these demands.

According to news agency ANI, Shaukat Ali Mir is leading the protest. In a recent speech, Mir highlighted corruption and unemployment as major issues. He said that the Pakistani government has pushed the people of PoK into a quagmire. It's time to get out of it.

3,000 soldiers sent from Islamabad

To control the situation, the Pakistan government has deployed 3,000 soldiers from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK. In fact, local soldiers deployed in PoK are already protesting against the government. These soldiers are demanding equal pay and allowances. In response, the Pakistan government has sent 3,000 soldiers from Islamabad.