AJK Erupts Amid Strike and Communications Blackout: From Peace Rally to Bloodshed

Fatal Clashes in AJK Capital as Strike Paralyses Region

At least one civilian was killed and more than a dozen others — including a police officer — were injured on Monday when violent clashes erupted in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The unrest unfolded against the backdrop of a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike, enforced across the region under a communications blackout that has entered its second day.

The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a coalition of traders, lawyers, civil society activists, and political workers, had called the strike after protracted negotiations with the government collapsed. The committee has long demanded the abolition of elite privileges, withdrawal of excessive allowances for officials, a reduction in electricity tariffs, subsidized wheat and food items, and the elimination of assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees based in Pakistan. These demands, according to JKJAAC leaders, reflect the grievances of “ordinary Kashmiris who bear the brunt of inflation, shortages, and political marginalization.”

While the government has repeatedly claimed that a majority of the demands have already been accepted, the JKJAAC insists that official promises have rarely translated into meaningful action, fueling distrust between both sides.

Clashes at Neelum Bridge: From Peace Rally to Bloodshed

The most serious confrontation occurred at Neelum Bridge after midday, when a so-called “peace rally” organized by Muslim Conference leader Raja Saqib Majeed converged on the JKJAAC sit-in. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as Majeed’s convoy encountered protesters blocking the bridge.

According to multiple eyewitnesses, participants of the rally opened fire on demonstrators without provocation. Thirty-year-old Mohammad Sudheer, a crockery shop owner, was struck by a bullet and rushed to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), where doctors confirmed that he succumbed to his injuries due to excessive blood loss. Another shopkeeper, Mohammad Basharat, 50, was injured by shrapnel and recalled that protesters had attempted to clear a path for Majeed’s convoy, but instead were met with aggression from his supporters.

Witnesses further alleged that police and paramilitary troops accompanying the rally used live ammunition and tear gas against the demonstrators. At CMH, injured civilians displayed spent bullet casings they claimed to have picked up from the site while rescuing the wounded.

“Why was Mr. Majeed permitted to stage a so-called peace march on the same day when the action committee had already declared a lockdown?” asked 20-year-old shopkeeper Raja Safeer, being treated at the hospital’s emergency ward.

While local media carried conflicting reports — some alleging that JKJAAC protesters fired upon the rally — the claims remain unverified. With communication networks suspended, neither Raja Saqib Majeed nor local authorities could be reached for comment.

Mass Mobilization in Muzaffarabad and Beyond

As evening fell, Lal Chowk in Muzaffarabad turned into the epicenter of resistance. Hundreds of men, women, and youth gathered, waving banners and chanting slogans, as JKJAAC leaders delivered fiery speeches. Shaukat Nawaz Mir, one of the prominent leaders, accused “certain elements” of deliberately attempting to manufacture chaos reminiscent of Pakistan’s May 9 unrest, hinting at a broader political conspiracy to weaken grassroots movements in AJK.

Mir appealed directly to the Chief of Army Staff to intervene and ensure justice, calling on supporters to reassemble the next morning to chart the committee’s next course of action.

The paralysis was not confined to Muzaffarabad alone. In Rawalakot and Sudhnoti, parallel demonstrations were held, drawing large crowds. In Bhimber, a rally was spearheaded by Ehsanul Haq, brother of AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq and a PTI member, signaling how the protests have cut across political and ideological lines. Across the region, businesses, shops, and markets remained closed, while transport services came to a standstill.

Communications Blackout and Rising Distrust

The suspension of mobile and internet services since Sunday has compounded the crisis. Authorities argue that the move was necessary to prevent “misinformation and the spread of violence.” However, for many residents, the blackout has fueled suspicion that officials are concealing the scale of violence. With information channels disrupted, rumors have circulated widely, deepening fear and anxiety among the populace.

Families of injured protesters reported difficulties in coordinating medical care, while journalists and human rights activists decried the restrictions as an attempt to silence voices and prevent independent verification of events.

Political Dimensions and Broader Implications

Analysts argue that the unrest in AJK reflects deeper fault lines in the governance of the region. For decades, critics have pointed to systemic inequalities, elite dominance, and limited autonomy as sources of discontent. The JKJAAC’s 38-point charter is viewed by many not merely as a list of economic demands but as a call for structural reforms to make governance more accountable and responsive to ordinary citizens.

The violence has also raised questions about the role of political parties. The Muslim Conference’s decision to stage a “peace rally” on the very day of the JKJAAC strike has been criticized as a provocative move, while the participation of PTI-linked figures in counter-rallies suggests attempts by mainstream political actors to exploit the unrest for partisan advantage.

International observers have taken notice. Reports of civilian casualties and communication blackouts have prompted concern from diaspora groups and human rights organizations. Already, a UK parliamentary panel has expressed “serious concern” about the situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, urging the British government to raise the issue with Islamabad.

A Region on Edge

The current standoff leaves AJK at a crossroads. The government has promised investigations and appealed for calm, while JKJAAC leaders insist they will not back down until their demands are fully met. The coming days will test whether dialogue can be restored or whether the protests will escalate into a prolonged confrontation, with unpredictable consequences for governance and stability in the region.

As Muzaffarabad’s streets remain tense and shuttered, one sentiment echoes across conversations with ordinary residents: frustration at being caught between political maneuvering and heavy-handed crackdowns, with their daily lives suspended in uncertainty.