The situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir is very tense, despite the presence of a large contingent of forces, more deployments have been made. The Public Action Committee has announced to start a long march today, Wednesday, 15th, in favor of its demands.
Before the long march, 10 people were killed in firing by Pakistani forces on unarmed protesters on Tuesday, including two officials.
The long march of the Action Committee will leave Rawalakot for Muzaffarabad at 2 pm today and according to officials, 4,000 Rangers, police and FC personnel have already reached Kashmir in this context.
Poonch Division Commissioner Sardar Waheed Khan confirmed that 10 people were killed in clashes between the Jammu Kashmir Joint Public Action Committee and government forces in two separate incidents at Rawalakot and Sadnoti on Tuesday.
Sardar Waheed Khan told the BBC that the dead included eight civilians, a Rangers officer and a police officer from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
It should be noted that an audio clip is viral on social media in which a person, who is said to be from the Pakistani army, is instructing Pakistani forces Rangers, secret agencies and army personnel to target the Kashmir administration police, after which the path will be paved for declaring the Action Committee as a full-fledged terrorist.
The leaders of the organization say that the long march will start today, Wednesday afternoon, while Pakistani authorities say that the protesters will not be allowed to march towards Muzaffarabad.
The demands of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Public Action Committee include the abolition of privileges of the ruling elite, reduction in ministerial and political appointments, economical use of government resources, and the abolition of assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan.
The committee maintains that the transfer of these seats and development funds outside the state puts a burden on local resources. Apart from this, their demands include the closure of cases against workers under agreements with the government, removal of obstacles in issuing character certificates and opposition to the deployment of Pakistan Rangers.
The committee has also demanded free and quality education and treatment, provision of doctors, staff, medicines and diagnostic facilities in hospitals, establishment of an international airport, abolition of certain quota systems in government jobs, improvement of the quality of flour and wheat, local authority over grid stations and natural resources, payment of compensation related to Mangla Dam, eco-friendly hydro projects, elimination of corruption and patronage culture and administrative reforms.
The 38-point list also includes demands such as interest-free loans for youth, employment or unemployment allowance, tax concessions, job quota for the disabled, judicial and local government reforms, student union elections, abolition of ad hoc appointments, protection of traders, minimum monthly wage of Rs 50,000 and allotment of land to sanitary workers.
Share this content:
