Amid the intensified protests by locals in POJK against the Pakistan government, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday reiterated that PoJK is an integral part of India, and one day India will end the illegal occupation of PoJK merging it in India.
Earlier, over the deteriorating situation in the region, prominent PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza urged India to intervene in the matter. As the intense clashes between Pakistan authorities and civilians entered its fourth day, Mirza stated that Pakistan police’s violent crackdown on the demonstrators in PoJK is a broad daylight murder, adding that the lives of people are in danger.
Meanwhile, after facing immense pressure, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly granted a subsidy amounting to Rs 23 billion for PoJK.
Responding to protests in PoJK, EAM Jaishankar expressed the Modi government’s commitment to end the illegal occupation of PoJK and ensure its merger with India.
Furthermore, while responding to critiques who consider PoJK a part of Pakistan, EAM reiterated that PoJK will always remain an integral part of India, adding that there’s a resolution in the Indian constitution which underlines that PoJK is very much a part of the country. BYTE: video 2: start to 0.43 S. Jaishankar, EAM
Political activist Amjad Ayub Mirza while shedding light on the gravity of the situation where overnight police raids have led to the arrest of numerous leaders and activists in PoJK, shared a glimpse into the chaos, that is now in its fourth consecutive day.
He pleaded with the Indian government for intervention, Mirza urged India to raise the issue at the United Nations. BYTE: video 5: 1.56 to 3.29 Amjad Ayub Mirza, Political Activist
The Pakistani Rangers, a paramilitary force under the Pakistan Army, on Monday opened fire in Muzaffarabad, killing at least four citizens protesting peacefully against inflation and the Pakistan government’s ignorance of PoJK, potentially escalating the already volatile situation. Enraged over the Pakistan Army’s brutal repression, citizens in PoJK began pelting stones at the vehicles of Pakistan rangers.
Notably, amidst this imminent crisis and after facing strong criticism, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif was pushed to announce his approval on Monday to grant a subsidy amounting to Rs 23 billion for PoJK.
While current protests in the region are mainly against heavy taxes levied by the Pakistani government, demonstrators are also protesting against harsh economic conditions in the country.
The Awami Workers Party and the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee have expressed their solidarity with the protestors, condemning injustices perpetrated by the Pakistan government in PoJK. The Awami Action Committee in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) has vowed to continue protests amid a police crackdown on peaceful demonstrators in Muzaffarabad.
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