MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir remains under complete lockdown for the second consecutive day as widespread protests and a wheel-jam strike continue across the region. The demonstrations, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), have brought daily life to a standstill in all major cities and towns.
Shops, businesses, and public transport services are completely shut down, while roads appear deserted. The JAAC has vowed to continue the strike until the government accepts their demands, the details of which remain undisclosed in official channels but are widely believed to be related to economic and governance issues.
A large protest convoy from Bagh is advancing towards Muzaffarabad and has already reached Kohala, where demonstrators encountered barricades and containers placed by authorities to block access. In defiance, protesters removed the obstacles themselves and even threw several containers into the Neelum River to clear the route.
Chanting anti-government slogans, demonstrators accused the administration of ignoring public grievances and failing to provide relief amid growing hardships. Security forces have been deployed in large numbers around Kohala Bridge and other strategic points to prevent unrest from spreading.
Adding to public frustration, mobile and internet services across Azad Kashmir remain suspended for the second day. The shutdown, which began a day before the protests, has severely disrupted communication, online education, digital banking, and business operations.
Students are unable to attend online classes or submit assignments, while freelancers, small business owners, and overseas workers’ families have been left disconnected from vital services.
In cities like Mirpur, residents were seen gathering along highways in Mangla and Dina, desperately searching for mobile signals to contact relatives abroad. The communication blackout has caused particular distress to families with members living overseas.
The Joint Awami Action Committee has hinted at launching a major sit-in in Muzaffarabad once all convoys arrive. Local residents and authorities brace for further escalation, with tensions running high and a climate of uncertainty spreading throughout the region.
Protesters assert that they will not back down until their demands are met, while the government has yet to issue a formal response. Civil society groups and human rights activists have urged authorities to restore communication services and engage in dialogue to resolve the crisis peacefully.
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