There is a massive agitation in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) against high prices of wheat flour and electricity. A police officer was killed and more than 100 people were injured in violent clashes between protesters and security forces on Saturday and Sunday. Most of the injured are policemen.
According to Dawn newspaper, clashes broke out between police and protesters in the disputed area on Saturday and the entire area was cordoned off and shops were kept closed. Mirpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kamran Ali said that Sub Inspector Adnan Qureshi died of a bullet wound in the chest in Islamgarh town. Qureshi along with other policemen were deployed there to stop the rally from Kotli and Poonch districts to Muzaffarabad. The rally was taken out under the banner of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Violent clashes broke out between police and protesters in different areas of PoK’s capital Muzaffarabad during the strike on Friday. The government deployed a large number of policemen to quell the massive protests. SSP Yasin Baig said police fired tear gas shells and fired in the air in some areas while protesters pelted stones and threw bottles. Demanding an end to class privileges. The administration has deployed a large contingent of rangers and policemen to quell the protests.
Internet and mobile services banned
Bhibanar and Bagh on Sunday, reported Geo News. Mobile phone and internet services were suspended in various parts of PoK, including towns. It said that all mobile network and internet services have been suspended in Mirpur. Sources said that President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has called an emergency meeting on this at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday.
Sources said that the President has directed to bring a proposal to resolve this issue. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday said that he is extremely concerned about the situation in PoK. He said that breaking the law and damaging government properties should not be tolerated at all.
59 policemen injured
During the protest, protesters pelted stones and bottles. Due to which the police had to fire tear gas shells. The SSP said that 59 policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Ilyas Janjua and two Revenue Department officials, were injured in Rehan Gali, while 19 other policemen were injured in Sahamsa Baroiya.