One Officer Killed After Violent Clashes Erupt Between Police, Protesters in PoJK

Violent clashes erupted in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), resulting in one police officer’s death and injuries to 90 others. The clashes occurred during ongoing protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), demanding electricity provision at hydropower generation cost, subsidised wheat flour, and an end to elite class privileges.

The protests escalated following the arrest of around 70 JAAC activists triggering clashes in Dadyal. Subsequently, a strike was announced, leading to clashes between police and protesters in Muzaffarabad. The authorities took measures to block routes to Muzaffarabad, resulting in complete strikes in Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.

Injuries were reported on both sides, with police resorting to tear gas shelling and aerial firing. Kotli SSP Mir Muhammad Abid reported 78 policemen injured in attacks by miscreants during protests. Protesters were also injured, with nine brought to District Headquarters Hospital Kotli for treatment.

JAAC spokesperson Hafeez Hamdani disavowed violence, suggesting that disruptive elements may have infiltrated the protests. PoJK Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan expressed willingness for peaceful dialogue, emphasizing that government restraint shouldn’t be misconstrued as weakness.

PML-N leaders, including Shah Ghulam Qadir and Raja Farooq Haider, urged peaceful protests and dialogue for resolving grievances. They called for an end to violence and damage to government properties. The situation remains tense, with calls for negotiation and restraint from all parties involved.