Chaos in Pakistani Kashmir After Mass Protests
A Region in Turmoil
For over a week, Pakistani‑administered Kashmir has teetered on the edge of collapse after violent protests erupted, leaving at least twenty dead and ordinary life ground to a halt. The crisis began when a now‑banned political group called for a general strike on June 9, protesting the reservation of twelve assembly seats for refugees from Indian‑administered Kashmir.
Bloodshed and Brutality
What started as civil disobedience quickly spiraled into deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces. The toll has been devastating:
- 20+ civilians killed in the unrest
- Dozens injured, with 97 police officers wounded
- Four officers dead, according to police chief Liaqat Ali Malik
- 515 arrests made as authorities crack down on dissent
Life Under Lockdown
To quell the uprising, authorities imposed draconian measures:
- Major roads shut down
- Internet access severed
- Media blackout enforced
The shutdown has strangled the local economy. Day labourer Ikhlaq Ahmed (27) has earned nothing since the strike began. The usually thriving Upper Adda market in Muzaffarabad now stands desolate, with shops opening for only a few hours a day. Banks lie dormant, crippled by lost connectivity, while petrol stations remain closed by government decree.
A Divided Society
Ordinary workers bear the brunt. Asif Naz, a motorcycle taxi driver, laments: “Only those with money can survive this. The rest are ruined.”
A Paradox of Governance
The crisis exposes a bitter irony: Pakistan has condemned India’s suppression of dissent in Kashmir, yet now faces its own citizens’ fury. The prolonged shutdown risks economic collapse and deeper unrest, threatening the region’s fragile stability—and the legitimacy of its rulers.
