pok (Credit: OpenAI)
Pok: The latest protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir began when college and university students stood up against rising semester fees and errors in the new digital evaluation system, but the government’s weak response only increased frustration, turning a small academic issue into a loud voice of public anger where thousands of young people flooded the streets demanding fairness, justice, and respect, showing that this generation is no longer willing to stay silent under pressure or broken promises, giving strength to their collective demand for change.
The situation took a serious turn when a man opened fire near a group of protesting students in Muzaffarabad, injuring one student and spreading fear across the area, with viral videos showing chaos in the streets as students ran to save themselves, while the presence of police officers during the firing raised troubling questions, pushing the youth towards stronger resistance and louder slogans as they burned tyres, blocked roads, and made it clear that this protest is no longer about fees alone but about dignity and accountability in their region.
What started inside university campuses has now moved to main city roads with not just college students but intermediate students also joining the protests after results were delayed for months and wrong marks appeared in their score sheets, making them feel cheated about their future, while many complained that rechecking fees were so high that students from simple families could not afford them, turning the education system itself into a burden, increasing the belief that the system is ignoring the needs of the youth who are simply demanding fairness and transparency.
This is not the first time POK has seen unrest, as earlier protests in the region had demanded lower taxes, cheaper electricity, and better public services, but when the government tried to control the agitation through force, the anger only grew stronger, especially among the youth who feel that their dreams are being repeatedly crushed by rising costs, weak governance, and a lack of opportunities, making the current movement wider and deeper than previous protests and showing long building frustration that can no longer be ignored.
What gives this agitation more strength is the backing of the Joint Awami Action Committee, which had earlier led the widespread protests in October where dozens were injured and many were arrested, but after the government failed to keep its promises and development work remained incomplete, the youth now believe that this new protest is necessary to hold authorities accountable, and with social media spreading their message, the movement is finding supporters not just inside POK but also in cities like Lahore where solidarity marches have already begun.
The timing of the protests is important, coming just weeks after Nepal and Bangladesh saw similar movements where young citizens stood up against unfair policies and deep-rooted corruption, leading to major political shifts, and in Sri Lanka too, youth-led marches forced changes in leadership, showing that a new trend is emerging across the region where Gen Z is no longer afraid to raise its voice, and the POK protests appear to be part of this larger wave of young people demanding accountability, transparency, and dignity in governance.
The coming days are critical, as the government now has to decide whether to listen to the demands of the students or try to suppress the movement once again, but one thing is clear that the youth of POK have found their voice and they are not ready to step back easily, as the protests have already crossed the boundary of educational issues and entered the space of political and social rights, raising a serious question about whether the Sharif government is prepared to address the root causes or continue ignoring the rising anger spreading across the region.
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