Rawalakot (POJK), Sept 14 (NVI) Pakistan would have never thought it would continue for so long. But here it is. The mass uprising against it in occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) has completed 100 days and there are no signs of it ending anytime soon.
What was initially planned as a ‘Long March’ from all parts of POJK to its capital Muzaffarabad to press certain demands related to basic rights has developed into a full-fledged revolt against the illegal occupation by Pakistan.
Rallies, demonstrations and processions continue unabated with the participation of lakhs of people, including women and elderly.
The resolve of Kashmiris is unwavering even as Pakistan has been using extreme forms of brutalities like direct firing on peaceful protesters which have resulted in the killing of over 100 unarmed people and injuring of hundreds of others. Thousands have been arrested, including top leaders of the agitation.
The Pakistani regime has also resorted to the inhuman act of ‘economic blockade’ on the landlocked POJK by preventing supplies of even essential items like food grains and medicines.
The Pakistani forces have also shut down or seized control of hospitals, clinics and medical shops across POJK.
The Pakistani forces also sealed shops and business establishments in several parts of POJK to punish their owners for participating in the peaceful agitation.
Bank accounts of many locals have been frozen.
Internet has also been shut down in an attempt to prevent the visuals of Pakistani atrocities from going into circulation.
But the undeterred Kashmiris have pledged not to relent before the Pakistani forces, being described as “Zionist”.
Long March
The call for ‘Long March Towards Muzaffarabad’ had been given by J&K Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a conglomerate of several non-political organisations of the occupied region.
The ‘Long March’ was slated to begin on 9 June 2026.
Ahead of the D-day, Pakistan, with the clear intent to thwart the agitation by force, sent tens of thousands of its military personnel to POJK, adding to the lakhs of those already present.
Two days before the planned march, Pakistan launched a brutal crackdown on leaders and activists of JKJAAC and imposed curfew.
Rawalakot in particular witnessed bloodshed caused by the Pakistani forces on June 7 itself.
Despite that, lakhs of protesters reached Rawalakot on 10 June, intending to continue towards Muzaffarabad. Peaceful sit-ins were subsequently established in and around Rawalakot, which became the epicenter of the agitation.
Since then, 100 days have passed but the sit-ins continue day and night and the public participation has continued to swell.
Demands
The agitation was launched for the due rights of the locals for cheaper electricity, subsidised wheat/flour and an end to Pakistani interference in political affairs.
The demand related to end of political interference is about reservation of 12 seats in 53-member POJK Assembly for so-called ‘refugees of Jammu and Kashmir living in Pakistan’.
The voters and candidates of these 12 controversial seats are dubious and linked to Pakistani establishment, i.e, the Pakistani military.
Thus, these 12 seats form the key for the Pakistani establishment to make or break the local governments in POJK, amounting to gross interference in the political affairs of the occupied region.
Kashmiris also say that electricity produced from the rivers of POJK is looted by Pakistan and the locals get no benefit. They want it to be corrected.
It is increasingly becoming clear that people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir are not willing to suffer subjugation anymore and are ready to do take on the occupying regime head on.
The façade of “Azad Kashmir” has fallen and the agitation has grown into an uprising against the illegal rule of Pakistan which militarily occupied these parts of Jammu and Kashmir in October 1947 through an invasion.
The people of the POJK, who have remained subdued and submissive for the last 78 years of Pakistani occupation, have finally resolved to chart their political future by breaking the chains of subjugation. And they declare it openly. (NVI)
