Rawalakot/New Delhi: India is keeping close watch after the ongoing protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) spread beyond Rawalakot and reached the Line of Control (LoC).
Thousands of protesters gathered in Rawalakot, openly challenging Pakistan’s administrative control over the region and accusing Islamabad of decades of neglect, economic hardship and political repression, as reported by timesnow.in.
Spearheaded by civil rights activist Sardar Aman Khan, the agitation has expanded beyond Rawalakot, with parallel demonstrations and sit-ins continuing near the Line of Control (LoC), as protesters sustain pressure on Pakistani authorities.
Khan, while addressing a large gathering at Rawalakot’s Eidgah ground, delivered one of the strongest public criticisms yet of Pakistan’s governance in PoJK.
“PoK is not a part of Pakistan. We do not need Pakistan; rather, it is Pakistan that desperately needs PoK,” Khan told thousands of supporters.
Demonstrators cheered at his remarks, reflecting growing frustration among sections of the local population over what organisers describe as prolonged political and economic marginalisation.
Demonstrators alleged that Pakistani authorities imposed a two-week blockade on essential food supplies and rations, triggering shortages and widespread public anger. The latest wave of protests gained momentum after that.
The restrictions have become a catalyst for a broader movement demanding political rights, economic relief and administrative, protest organisers said.
Protests have been continuing for more than three weeks, with demonstrators maintaining a round-the-clock sit-in at Rawalakot while refusing to withdraw until their demands are addressed.
Another group of protesters has been staging a sit-in since June 9 near the LoC. Khan has warned that continued pressure from Islamabad could fundamentally alter public sentiment in the region.
If authorities persisted with the alleged blockade on essential supplies, “the remaining borders of PoJK could open up”, he said, suggesting that residents could seek closer engagement with India if their grievances remained unaddressed. The remarks underscored the growing political tensions surrounding the ongoing protests.
The movement is centred around a 38-point charter of demands, organisers say, which they describe as addressing decades of alleged state repression, administrative neglect, inflation and deteriorating living conditions.
The campaign extends beyond immediate economic concerns and reflects long-standing dissatisfaction with governance and public services in PoJK, the protesters have maintained. The sustained occupation of Rawalakot’s protest site has become one of the most prominent civil demonstrations witnessed in the region in recent years.
Leaders also accused Pakistani authorities of suspending internet services across parts of PoJK from June 5, alleging the move was intended to prevent information about the demonstrations from reaching international audiences.
The movement has continued to gain momentum despite the digital restrictions, organisers claimed. They further asserted that solidarity demonstrations have taken place outside Pakistani embassies and high commissions in several countries, although those claims could not be independently verified.
Organisers say the agitation will continue until their demands are addressed and what they describe as Pakistani administrative control over PoJK comes to an end.
