September 29, 2025, Kotli (PoK) — One person died and nine were injured after firing during mass protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir’s Kotli area, where thousands demonstrated against the Pakistani government and army on Sunday.
The Awami Action Committee (AAC), a civil society organization, had called for a shutdown and wheel-jam strike in PoK. The protests are part of AAC’s 38-point agenda demanding fundamental rights and reforms for PoK residents.
Before the protests began, Pakistani authorities deployed heavy police forces across the region and shut down internet services at midnight to prevent gatherings. Around 1,000 police personnel were sent from Punjab to control the situation.
Entry and exit points to PoK were sealed. The government resorted to firing on protesters to stop the demonstrations, resulting in one death and multiple injuries.
AAC’s key demands include removing the provision that reserves 12 assembly seats for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. Protesters are also demanding subsidized electricity from the Mangla Hydro Power Project, reduced flour prices, and fulfillment of promises made by the Pakistani government.
“Our campaign is not against any institution. But for 70 years, PoK people have not received fundamental rights. Enough is enough. Either give us our rights or face people’s anger,” said AAC leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir.
According to Dawn newspaper, the shutdown occurred after talks between AAC and government failed. Ministers said constitutional changes cannot be decided in closed-door meetings, leading to the breakdown of negotiations.
This is not the first time PoK has witnessed such protests. In May 2024, residents held strikes demanding cheap electricity and flour subsidies. They argued that since Mangla Dam in Mirpur district generates power, PoK residents should receive electricity at fair prices.
In 2022, large-scale demonstrations erupted when Pakistan government planned the 15th Constitutional Amendment to define the constitutional status of occupied areas. Protesters burned tires and blocked roads during those agitations.