Large protests have broken out in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, fueled by outrage over rising electricity bills and flour prices in a region that has long suffered economically due to its status as a conflict zone.
In a bid to quell the growing unrest, which led to a widespread strike and left one police officer dead and 90 injured, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called an emergency meeting for Monday in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.
As protesters planned to march this week toward Muzaffarabad, the regional capital, authorities suspended Internet service in many areas and closed schools in the city.
“I have never seen such a large-scale uprising in Pakistan-administered Kashmir,” said Mubashar Naqvi, a Muzaffarabad resident and professor at Azad Jammu and Kashmir University. “This protest is unique because it unites people from all walks of life to demand basic needs.”
The picturesque but highly militarized Kashmir region in the Himalayas, claimed by both Pakistan and India since independence from Britain in 1947, has been the scene of three wars between estranged neighbors.
The current unrest poses a challenge to the Pakistani military, which maintains a strong presence in the region, and to the civilian leadership in Islamabad. Pakistan views Kashmir as a disputed territory whose status should be resolved through a UN-mandated referendum to allow Kashmiris to choose between being part of Pakistan or India.
But the Pakistani government has faced criticism for repressing local movements seeking full independence. Although there have been no calls for independence in the current wave of unrest, residents said the protests reflected a general feeling of dissatisfaction.
“There is a strong sense of anger and frustration among Kashmiri youth, fueled by political disappointment, high inflation and severe unemployment,” Naqvi said.
The unrest began on Friday when an activist group consisting mainly of traders began a strike in Muzaffarabad that soon led to violent clashes with law enforcement officials. The arrest of Kashmiri activists in night raids had prompted calls for a strike.
Kashmiri authorities have urged protesters not to resort to violence. Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, local government minister, said a plan to send paramilitary troops was withdrawn as talks with protesters continued.
But the real solution, he said, lies in the hands of Pakistani national officials. “The huge demand of the people, the demand for cheap electricity and an end to power cuts, falls under the jurisdiction of the government of Pakistan,” Rathore said.
The region relies heavily on government jobs and receives little private investment due to its status.
As the protests entered their third day, the streets of Muzaffarabad were quiet on Sunday. Security forces, identified by their black scarves, were a marked presence at the checkpoints. Residents watched from behind closed windows, their daily routines disrupted and supplies dwindling.
To ease the hardship, protest organizers said essential shops could open for three hours each night. Ayesha Bibi, 34, a resident of Muzaffarabad, expressed anguish over the needs of her young son.
“He hasn’t had milk for two days,” Bibi said. “We can endure hunger, but denying ourselves basic services like affordable electricity and wheat flour is unbearable.”
Siddique Haidari, 68, another resident, lamented the widespread damage caused by the clashes. “Every home here shows the damage,” he said.
Mughal Jalaluddin contributed with reports.