Mass protests erupted across Pakistan‑occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) on Saturday after Pakistani authorities intensified their crackdown on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil rights movement that has been leading demonstrations for months. The unrest surged following the arrest of JAAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir and the reported detention of more than 600 activists, triggering widespread anger across all 10 districts of the region.
Videos circulating on social media show thousands of people marching through streets in Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Kotli and Mirpur, demanding relief from severe shortages of food, medicines and essential supplies. JAAC leaders say the Pakistani administration has deliberately restricted rations and medical access to pressure protesters into backing down.
In a widely shared clip, protest leader Sardar Aman Khan made an emotional appeal to people across Mendhar, Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Jammu, urging them to stand with PoJK residents. “There is a shortage of rations, a shortage of medicines, and we need your help,” he said, addressing a charged crowd.
The protests have also taken on a political dimension, with many demonstrators renewing calls for reunification with India, accusing Pakistan of decades of neglect, exploitation and repression. Shutdowns, sit‑ins and road blockades have been reported across the region, with several towns observing a complete voluntary strike.
The crackdown intensified after Pakistan banned JAAC under the Anti‑Terrorism Act, placing hundreds of members on the country’s “Fourth Schedule” watch list. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers, leading to clashes, injuries and internet blackouts.
Analysts say the unrest reflects deeper turmoil within Pakistan, which is already grappling with economic distress, political instability and rising militancy. The situation in PoJK, they warn, has become a major flashpoint that Islamabad can no longer ignore.