PoK Protest Sparks Fresh Row As Demonstrators Allege Plot To Infiltrate Terrorists Into Crowd

Muzaffarabad: The situation has become extremely tense before the proposed 'Long March' in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). Thousands of people are preparing to march towards Muzaffarabad under the leadership of Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Meanwhile, protesting leaders have alleged that Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI is conspiring to include people from banned terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in the crowd to defame the protests. These allegations could not be independently confirmed.

What is the allegation of the protesters?

JAAC leaders say that their movement is completely peaceful and its objective is to raise the demand for the rights and local governance of the people of PoK. They allege that the ISI wants to incite violence by including radical elements in the crowd so that action can be taken against it by linking it to terrorism. The protesters have appealed to the people to remain alert and immediately give information about any suspicious person to the volunteers.

Why did tension increase regarding Muzaffarabad march?

JAAC has called for a Muzaffarabad march on July 15 after the expiry of the ultimatum given to the Pakistan government. The organisation says that now their main agenda is to give the people of PoK the right to govern their area. The protesters claim that a large number of people are leaving from different districts to join the march.

Has action already been taken?

In the last few weeks, there have been clashes between protests and security forces in many parts of PoK. According to reports, a large number of protesters and social activists have been detained. JAAC alleges that the administration has also imposed restrictions on communication services, food supplies and availability of medicines. On the other hand, strict action is being taken against the movement from Pakistan side.

What is the main demand of the protesters?

The agitators are now demanding to go beyond the list of demands put forward earlier and handing over the responsibility of governance of PoK to the local people. He says that the future of the area should be decided by the people there and any kind of external interference should be ended. The leaders of the movement have described it as a "fight for people's rights".

What could happen next?

In view of the proposed march towards Muzaffarabad, security arrangements have been tightened in the entire area. A large number of security forces have been deployed and the administration is prepared to deal with any untoward situation. In such a situation, it will be important to see whether the march ends peacefully or the tension in the area increases further. There has been no official response from Pakistan on the allegations related to ISI and terrorist organisations made by the protesters.