Pak forces out: Women and schoolchildren fuel massive POK protests
The anti-Pakistan protests in PoK have intensified, with over 70,000 demonstrators, including women and schoolchildren, joining the agitation as organisers warn of a mass march to Muzaffarabad if Islamabad fails to meet their 38 demands.
As the anti-Pakistan uprising in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) entered its 14th consecutive day on Monday, several women and schoolchildren joined large-scale demonstrations as the protest movement intensified ahead of a June 23 deadline issued to Islamabad by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), according to intelligence sources.
The agitation, which began earlier this month, has now spread well beyond political activists, with demonstrations reported from multiple districts across PoK. Intelligence inputs indicate that more than 70,000 protesters from different parts of the region have maintained a continuous sit-in at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground for the past 11 days, while fresh protests erupted in several towns and villages on Monday.
The growing participation of women and children has emerged as one of the defining features of the movement, underscoring what organisers describe as widespread public anger over political repression, economic hardship and the dominance of Pakistan's military establishment in the region.
In Tarar Khel in Sudhnoti district, schoolchildren, estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old, assembled in a public square and raised slogans demanding Azadi (freedom). In Mandhole, hundreds of women marched through the locality carrying placards and chanting slogans against the Pakistani government and military, describing them as illegal occupiers.
At Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, dozens of schoolchildren were seen holding placards bearing messages such as "Pakistani Forces Out Out", "Pakistani Forces are Killing Kashmiris", "Kashmir Under Pakistani Attack", "We Want Basic Rights", "We Want Free Education", "Food is Blocked Internet is Turned Off", and "UNO, We Need Your Attention".
The demonstrations come as the AAC has given the Pakistani government until June 23 to accept a charter of 38 demands. Protest leaders have warned that failure to meet the demands will trigger a mass march of more than 100,000 protesters from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad, the administrative capital of PoJK.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Eidgah Ground, senior organiser Sardar Aman Khan said Islamabad's options were rapidly diminishing while the people of PoJK remained determined to continue the agitation.
According to intelligence inputs, Khan warned that Pakistan must concede the rights being demanded by the protesters or face an expanded confrontation.
"If the Pakistan Army continues its oppression, the entire military apparatus will be pushed out of PoJK," he told the gathering.
Khan also accused Pakistan's military establishment of committing atrocities against various ethnic communities over several decades, referring to what he described as violence against Bengalis in the past and the continued suppression of Baloch and Pashtun populations. He said the people of PoJK would not accept similar treatment.
"If Kashmiris cannot live in PoJK, then the Pakistan Army will not be able to live here either," he said.
The AAC leadership has reiterated that the proposed march to Muzaffarabad will proceed if the government fails to respond positively before the June 23 deadline.
According to the inputs, Khan told supporters that if the march reaches Muzaffarabad, the movement would seek to establish popular control over political institutions there.
"The government in Muzaffarabad will belong to the Awami Action Committee," he was quoted as saying, while comparing the movement to popular uprisings that led to political changes in countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
The protest movement has also highlighted what organisers describe as an escalating humanitarian crisis across PoJK.
Intelligence sources said internet services have remained suspended throughout the region since June 5, severely restricting communication and media access. In addition, food trucks have reportedly been prevented from entering PoJK since June 14, resulting in shortages of essential supplies in several areas and fuelling further public resentment.
According to the intelligence inputs, clashes between protesters and Pakistani Rangers and security personnel since the beginning of the uprising have resulted in 58 deaths. Protest organisers have made accountability for those deaths one of their principal demands.
As the anti-Pakistan uprising in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) entered its 14th consecutive day on Monday, several women and schoolchildren joined large-scale demonstrations as the protest movement intensified ahead of a June 23 deadline issued to Islamabad by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), according to intelligence sources.
The agitation, which began earlier this month, has now spread well beyond political activists, with demonstrations reported from multiple districts across PoK. Intelligence inputs indicate that more than 70,000 protesters from different parts of the region have maintained a continuous sit-in at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground for the past 11 days, while fresh protests erupted in several towns and villages on Monday.
The growing participation of women and children has emerged as one of the defining features of the movement, underscoring what organisers describe as widespread public anger over political repression, economic hardship and the dominance of Pakistan's military establishment in the region.
In Tarar Khel in Sudhnoti district, schoolchildren, estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old, assembled in a public square and raised slogans demanding Azadi (freedom). In Mandhole, hundreds of women marched through the locality carrying placards and chanting slogans against the Pakistani government and military, describing them as illegal occupiers.
At Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, dozens of schoolchildren were seen holding placards bearing messages such as "Pakistani Forces Out Out", "Pakistani Forces are Killing Kashmiris", "Kashmir Under Pakistani Attack", "We Want Basic Rights", "We Want Free Education", "Food is Blocked Internet is Turned Off", and "UNO, We Need Your Attention".
The demonstrations come as the AAC has given the Pakistani government until June 23 to accept a charter of 38 demands. Protest leaders have warned that failure to meet the demands will trigger a mass march of more than 100,000 protesters from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad, the administrative capital of PoJK.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Eidgah Ground, senior organiser Sardar Aman Khan said Islamabad's options were rapidly diminishing while the people of PoJK remained determined to continue the agitation.
According to intelligence inputs, Khan warned that Pakistan must concede the rights being demanded by the protesters or face an expanded confrontation.
"If the Pakistan Army continues its oppression, the entire military apparatus will be pushed out of PoJK," he told the gathering.
Khan also accused Pakistan's military establishment of committing atrocities against various ethnic communities over several decades, referring to what he described as violence against Bengalis in the past and the continued suppression of Baloch and Pashtun populations. He said the people of PoJK would not accept similar treatment.
"If Kashmiris cannot live in PoJK, then the Pakistan Army will not be able to live here either," he said.
The AAC leadership has reiterated that the proposed march to Muzaffarabad will proceed if the government fails to respond positively before the June 23 deadline.
According to the inputs, Khan told supporters that if the march reaches Muzaffarabad, the movement would seek to establish popular control over political institutions there.
"The government in Muzaffarabad will belong to the Awami Action Committee," he was quoted as saying, while comparing the movement to popular uprisings that led to political changes in countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
The protest movement has also highlighted what organisers describe as an escalating humanitarian crisis across PoJK.
Intelligence sources said internet services have remained suspended throughout the region since June 5, severely restricting communication and media access. In addition, food trucks have reportedly been prevented from entering PoJK since June 14, resulting in shortages of essential supplies in several areas and fuelling further public resentment.
According to the intelligence inputs, clashes between protesters and Pakistani Rangers and security personnel since the beginning of the uprising have resulted in 58 deaths. Protest organisers have made accountability for those deaths one of their principal demands.
As the anti-Pakistan uprising in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) entered its 14th consecutive day on Monday, several women and schoolchildren joined large-scale demonstrations as the protest movement intensified ahead of a June 23 deadline issued to Islamabad by the Awami Action Committee (AAC), according to intelligence sources.
The agitation, which began earlier this month, has now spread well beyond political activists, with demonstrations reported from multiple districts across PoK. Intelligence inputs indicate that more than 70,000 protesters from different parts of the region have maintained a continuous sit-in at Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground for the past 11 days, while fresh protests erupted in several towns and villages on Monday.
The growing participation of women and children has emerged as one of the defining features of the movement, underscoring what organisers describe as widespread public anger over political repression, economic hardship and the dominance of Pakistan's military establishment in the region.
In Tarar Khel in Sudhnoti district, schoolchildren, estimated to be between 10 and 12 years old, assembled in a public square and raised slogans demanding Azadi (freedom). In Mandhole, hundreds of women marched through the locality carrying placards and chanting slogans against the Pakistani government and military, describing them as illegal occupiers.
At Rawalakot's Eidgah Ground, dozens of schoolchildren were seen holding placards bearing messages such as "Pakistani Forces Out Out", "Pakistani Forces are Killing Kashmiris", "Kashmir Under Pakistani Attack", "We Want Basic Rights", "We Want Free Education", "Food is Blocked Internet is Turned Off", and "UNO, We Need Your Attention".
The demonstrations come as the AAC has given the Pakistani government until June 23 to accept a charter of 38 demands. Protest leaders have warned that failure to meet the demands will trigger a mass march of more than 100,000 protesters from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad, the administrative capital of PoJK.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Eidgah Ground, senior organiser Sardar Aman Khan said Islamabad's options were rapidly diminishing while the people of PoJK remained determined to continue the agitation.
According to intelligence inputs, Khan warned that Pakistan must concede the rights being demanded by the protesters or face an expanded confrontation.
"If the Pakistan Army continues its oppression, the entire military apparatus will be pushed out of PoJK," he told the gathering.
Khan also accused Pakistan's military establishment of committing atrocities against various ethnic communities over several decades, referring to what he described as violence against Bengalis in the past and the continued suppression of Baloch and Pashtun populations. He said the people of PoJK would not accept similar treatment.
"If Kashmiris cannot live in PoJK, then the Pakistan Army will not be able to live here either," he said.
The AAC leadership has reiterated that the proposed march to Muzaffarabad will proceed if the government fails to respond positively before the June 23 deadline.
According to the inputs, Khan told supporters that if the march reaches Muzaffarabad, the movement would seek to establish popular control over political institutions there.
"The government in Muzaffarabad will belong to the Awami Action Committee," he was quoted as saying, while comparing the movement to popular uprisings that led to political changes in countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
The protest movement has also highlighted what organisers describe as an escalating humanitarian crisis across PoJK.
Intelligence sources said internet services have remained suspended throughout the region since June 5, severely restricting communication and media access. In addition, food trucks have reportedly been prevented from entering PoJK since June 14, resulting in shortages of essential supplies in several areas and fuelling further public resentment.
According to the intelligence inputs, clashes between protesters and Pakistani Rangers and security personnel since the beginning of the uprising have resulted in 58 deaths. Protest organisers have made accountability for those deaths one of their principal demands.
