20 hours ago
- copy link
The government of Pakistan had announced a relief package for PoK on Monday. Even after this, the protesters pelted stones at the vehicles of Pakistani Rangers.
Protests against inflation and electricity prices have been going on for 4 days in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a package of 23 billion Pakistani rupees (718 crore Indian rupees) for PoK. Despite this the protesters are not ready to step back.
According to Pakistani media Dawn News, shortly after the announcement of the relief package, Pakistani Rangers released tear gas shells and opened fire on the protesters. During this period, 3 people died, while 6 people were injured.
Actually, after PM Sharif’s announcement, Pakistani Rangers were ordered to leave PoK. After this, the convoy of 19 vehicles of Rangers was going out via Muzaffarabad, when they were attacked with stones in Shoran de Nakka village. During this period, three paramilitary vehicles were also set on fire. The Rangers opened fire in response to the attack.
The picture is of Muzaffarabad city of PoK, where Pakistani Rangers were seen deployed.
‘The demands of the people of PoK are legitimate’
Earlier, after Shahbaz’s announcement, PoK Prime Minister Anwarul Haq had said that people are demanding bread at cheap prices here. This is a fundamental demand which cannot be denied. This issue of electricity and flour prices was pending for a long time, which could only be resolved by the Central Government. The announcement made by Shahbaz government will be included in the next budget of Pakistan.
Under the relief package, the price of flour in PoK has been reduced from Rs 77/kg to Rs 50/kg. The price of electricity has also been reduced. According to Dawn News, in PoK, the price of electricity up to 100 units will be Rs 3, up to 300 units the price will be Rs 5/unit and if electricity is spent more than 300 units, it will be Rs 6/unit.
Protestors said – will get a legal investigation done on the government’s announcement
On the other hand, Jammu Kashmir Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which is leading the protest in PoK, has said that it will get the government’s notification legally investigated, only after that a decision will be taken on withdrawing the protest. JAAC said that the PoK government has so far been adopting an irresponsible attitude in this matter. For this reason they are no longer able to trust this relief package.
In view of the protests, PoK political activist Amjad Ayub Mirza has appealed to the Indian government to summon the Pakistani ambassador. Mirza said that Rangers have opened fire on protesters in Pakistan. There people are demanding concessions in the prices of everyday goods. In such a situation, communities around the world should come together and support PoK.
Pictures related to demonstration in PoK…
JAAC, which is leading the protest, had said on Monday that it would call off the protests only after conducting a legal investigation into the government announcement.
Protests are taking place against inflation and electricity prices in areas like Mirpur, Poonch and Muzaffarabad of PoK.
How protests turned violent in PoK
- Four days ago, protests started in PoK regarding the rising prices of everyday items. People were protesting peacefully, but the police present at the spot used lathicharge on the unarmed protesters. Due to this, women and school children were injured. Videos of Pakistan Police also went viral.
- After the police violence, people announced more demonstrations. They took to the streets. When the police again started using batons on the protesters, they became furious. They retaliated by attacking the police. One policeman was killed in this attack, while more than 100 people were injured.
Demands of the people protesting in PoK…
- The people of PoK demand that electricity should be provided at the cost of production. The Pakistani government takes electricity from PoK at Rs 2 per unit and gives it back to the people here at a higher rate.
- The Pakistan government has ended the subsidy on flour whereas the UN has instructions that the people of PoK should get subsidy on 30 items including flour.
- PoK bureaucracy and luxury facilities provided to 53 ministers should be abolished. The luxury cars, expensive houses and TA-DA given to them should be abolished.
- Many officials have such expensive cars that the PMs of many countries do not use them. His assistant has cars worth Rs 10-15 lakh.
Price of flour in Pakistan Rs 800 per kg
Amidst political instability in Pakistan, the economic condition of the country has deteriorated. A continuous increase in the inflation rate has been recorded here. The people of Pakistan are troubled by hunger and unemployment. The prices of daily essential goods are skyrocketing in the country. Pakistan’s GDP is likely to grow at a rate of only 2.1% in 2024.
For this reason, people had protested against the rising inflation in PoK last month also. During this time, people took to the streets and raised slogans against inflation. On the other hand, regarding the poor situation in PoK, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has accepted that human rights are being violated continuously there.