A Storm Brews in PoK: Decades of Neglect Ignite a People's Uprising

A wave of unprecedented unrest has swept across Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit-Baltistan, as thousands of citizens take to the streets, their voices echoing a collective cry against decades of perceived neglect and exploitation. What began as scattered protests has rapidly escalated into a widespread movement, uniting diverse segments of society – from political workers and traders to students, lawyers, and farmers – all demanding an end to what they describe as Islamabad's oppressive policies.

For over a week, major cities and towns including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Kotli, Bagh, and Mirpur in PoK, alongside Gilgit, Skardu, Diamer, Ghizer, Hunza, and Nagar in Gilgit-Baltistan, have witnessed a near-total shutdown.

Roads are blocked, markets are closed, and public services are disrupted, as the populace engages in a powerful display of civil disobedience. The intensity of these protests, characterized by their widespread participation and sustained duration, signals a deep-seated resentment that has finally reached a boiling point.

At the heart of this massive agitation are pressing economic and social grievances.

The soaring price of flour, a staple food, has been a major catalyst, with protesters demanding an immediate restoration of subsidies that they say are essential for survival. This is compounded by chronic, unscheduled power outages that plunge communities into darkness for hours on end, crippling daily life and local economies.

Citizens also decry the imposition of new, burdensome taxes and alleged illegal deductions from electricity bills, which further strain household budgets already under immense pressure.

Beyond these immediate concerns, the protests articulate a more profound disillusionment with Pakistan's governance of the region.

Allegations of land grabbing and the illegal occupation of ancestral territories have fueled accusations that Islamabad is systematically dispossessing local populations. Furthermore, the exploitation of natural resources – particularly hydroelectric power and minerals – without equitable benefit or adequate development for the local populace, is a source of bitter grievance.

Protesters argue that the wealth generated from their land is siphoned off, leaving them in poverty while their resources are plundered.

The demands are clear and resolute: an immediate end to exorbitant flour prices, a stable and affordable electricity supply, the return of all illegally occupied land, and a complete halt to the exploitation of the region's natural resources by Islamabad.

Speakers at various rallies have emphasized that this is not merely an economic struggle but a fight for their fundamental rights, dignity, and autonomy. They assert that the time for silent suffering is over, and their voices, amplified by the sheer scale of the movement, can no longer be ignored.

The unfolding events in PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan represent a critical moment, highlighting the fragility of regional stability and the profound impact of long-term grievances.

As thousands continue their defiant stand, the world watches to see how Islamabad will respond to this powerful and unified call for justice and an end to decades of marginalization.