Fresh protests rock PoK

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 19: In another spell of unrest among the people especially youth and students of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), large number of people under the banner of a student organization today took out a massive demonstration in Jandali area of PoK demanding freedom from Pakistan.
The agitated people, who were raising ‘pro-freedom slogans’ marched through different parts of Jandali in PoK before organizing a rally, which was addressed by several leaders, who charged Pakistan Government with creating unrest in PoK by training militants there for sending them to Jammu and Kashmir. They sought freedom for PoK from Pakistan.
The rally was organized under the banner of Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF), reports received here said.
Local leader Liyaqat Khan said: “Pakistan sends terrorists in various parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir to ruin this peaceful place”. The protestors could be seen raising pro-freedom slogans and raising banners to demand freedom from Pakistan.
The protesters alleged that Pakistan was training militants and then sending them to parts of PoK for pushing them to Jammu and Kashmir.
“However”, they said, “since these militants are unable to enter Jammu and Kashmir in view of strict surveillance maintained by the Indian Army, they create trouble in PoK by harassing the civilians including women and compelling the people to extend them hospitality like shelter, food etc.”
The people were highly agitated, which was evident from the fact that they kept various roads blocked for two hours shouting slogans in favour of freedom and against Pakistan Government. They were demanding freedom to PoK from Pakistan and removal of militants from their territory.
Describing demand by the students and youth of PoK for freedom from Pakistan as “very significant”, political observers said this was not for the first time when demand for freedom from Pakistan in PoK has surfaced but earlier also various groups and leaders have taken out protest demonstration and rallies for similar demand, which indicated growing disenchantment among the people against Pakistan.
The protesters have repeatedly been accusing the Pakistani forces of committing human rights violations and inflicting atrocities on the people of PoK.
On April 24, 2017, hundreds of locals in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir’s Kotli area took to the streets to protest against the forcible land-grabbing by Pakistan army. The protesters raised anti-Pakistan army and anti-Pakistan Government slogans.
On February 5, 2017, Islamabad observed the annual Kashmir Solidarity Day in support of the Kashmiri people. Enraged at Pakistan’s high-handedness and denial of basic human rights in their region, PoK residents took to the streets to express their ire at the corridors of power in Islamabad.
PoK residents claimed that the Pakistani Government, via its intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the administration, was committing atrocities on innocent citizens.
On October 22, 2016, Kashmiris across PoK held a protest demanding immediate withdrawal of the Pakistani forces from their territory.
On October 24, 2015 as well,  a ‘Black Day’ was observed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). An ‘anti-Pakistan’ protest was organized by the National Students Federation.
In April, 2016, anti-Pakistan protests erupted in various parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) over Islamabad’s discrimination in employment to local youth.
The protesters raised issues regarding lack of jobs in PoK where the Pakistani youth were being preferred as compared to Kashmiri youth.
A number of individuals owing allegiance to Jammu and Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF), along with some members of Jammu and Kashmir National Awami Party (JKNAP), had recently carried out a demonstration rally in Muzaffarabad area of PoK, condemning the oppressive rule by Pakistani authorities and the local PoK Government.
The protesters carried placards which read “Kashmir Bachanay Nikley Hain, Aao Hamaray Saath Chalo”.
PoK has witnessed a series of protests by residents in the past against the Pakistan Government for the atrocities and human rights violation by Pakistani forces.

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