Massive protest in Muzaffarabad resumes after violent clashes

A massive protest movement organized by the Awami Action Committee (AAC) resumes its long march towards Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir. Muzaffarabad is the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The ACC protest movement began its wheel-jam strike against high taxes and electricity bills on May 10, 2024. Protestors have closed several places along Kohala-Muzaffaradbad Road through massive sit-in protests.

Kohala-Muzaffaradbad Road is a 40-kilometer road connecting Kohala town and Muzaffarabad in the AJK. Protestors will more likely travel the same route from Dhirkot to reach Muzaffarabad.

Meanwhile, three protestors died in a violent clash with Rangers, and several were injured. The government of AJK has called in Rangers and AJK Police at sensitive locations and roundabouts. Transportation has been suspended while main markets, commercial centers, and educational institutions remain closed.

Hence, this action of the AJK government came after a violent clash happened between protestors and police yesterday in Mirpur. This clash resulted in the death of one police officer and ninety injured people.

Prime Minister expressed concern about violent clashes between AJK police and protestors yesterday. He said there was no tolerance for taking the law into one’s own hands. He also said he talked with AJK Prime Minsiter Chaudhary Anwar ul Haq and other PML-N office administrators in AJK to negotiate with ACC leaders.

Deeply concerned about the situation in AJK.

Unfortunately in situations of chaos and dissent there are always some who rush in to score political points. While debate, discussion and peaceful protests are the beauties of democracy , there should be absolutely no tolerance for…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 12, 2024

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Prime Minsiter Shehbaz Sharif also called today an emergency meeting over the massive protest movement in Muzaffarabad. He reviewed the current state of affairs in AJK following failed negotiations between the AJK government and protestors.

After the meeting, he announced a $83 million subsidy for Azad Kashmir to reduce wheat prices and high electricity bills. Despite this announcement, the violent clash and protest continued and took the lives of three people in Muzafarabbad.

However, the main ACC leadership has distanced itself from violent clashes that happened during protests. One ACC member, Tauseef Mansoor, said the committee had nothing to do with two or three violent incidents of protests.

ACC called for a shutterdown and wheel-jam strike across the state to protest against high electricity bills and taxes on May 10, 2024. But, the situation worsened when a peaceful protest turned into violence due to a clash between police and protestors.