Amjad Ayub Mirza, a well-known PoJK activist who is based in Scotland, has expressed concern about the worsening circumstances in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), threatening ‘broad daylight murder’ and stating that lives are in danger amid intensifying protests.
“This is the broad daylight murder that is taking place in PoK. Our lives are in danger,” Mirza asserted, offering a glimpse into the chaos gripping the region.
The Awami Action Committee, which is demanding tax-free energy from the Mangla Dam and subsidies on wheat flour, launched a wheel-jam strike that is the cause of the turmoil. Now in its fourth day without end, the strike has become a focal point for inhabitants of PoJK who have been brewing resentment.
The seriousness of the situation is made clear by Mirza’s testimony, which describes altercations between demonstrators and police in Muzaffarabad, Dadyal, Mirpur, and other parts of PoJK. The arrest of several leaders and activists as a result of overnight police raids fueled the dissent even further.
“Suddenly the protesters hit back and the Rangers retreated,” Mirza said, describing the volatile turn of events, adding, “It seemed as if the Rangers had disappeared from the scene, but then they came with a heavy contingency of rangers.”
When hostilities escalated, Mirza disclosed the army commandos’ helicopter incursion into Muzaffarabad. He mentions that each chopper holds roughly twenty to twenty-five commandos, which raises questions about the possibility of additional violence and casualties.
“We are in a desperate situation,” Mirza lamented, highlighting the blackout of internet services in the region, which has compounded the sense of isolation and uncertainty among residents.
In a plea for international intervention, Mirza urged the Indian government to raise the issue at the United Nations and demand answers from the Pakistani ambassador.