PoK protests over electricity and flour spark deadly clashes and hospital fears

Protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee in PoK have turned violent, with dozens killed and a makeshift clinic treating dozens of injured amid fears of arrests at hospitals.

In Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Joint Awami Action Committee has intensified protests demanding cheaper electricity, subsidised flour, and improved access to education and health care, saying an October pact with Pakistani and PoK authorities has not been honoured. The unrest, centred in Rawalakot, has led to road blockades, shop closures and internet shutdowns, while security operations have left dozens dead. A makeshift clinic near the protest hub has provided basic emergency care to about 50-60 critically injured individuals, including 15-20 with gunshot injuries, but lacks capacity for serious trauma.

Protesters claim they are reluctant to seek treatment at the main hospital due to fears of arrest or being shot, a charge the authorities reject. The government has banned the JAAC, branding it a foreign-funded terrorist group, whereas the committee denies any armed involvement and accuses security forces of firing on demonstrators. Both parties accuse each other of violence, and journalists on the ground have not observed weapons among protesters, leaving the source of gunfire unclear.