Kashmiris hold anti-Pak protests against enforced disappearances in PoK

The United Kashmir People's National Party (UKPNP) held a series of demonstrations and convention against the kidnapping of political activists from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

People held banners that said: "Stop abductions and enforced disappearances in so-called Azad Kashmir," and carried out a rally in Rawalpindi. They shouted slogans for freedom from Pakistan and also asked China to leave their occupied territory.

A convention was also held at the Rawalpindi Press Club, wherein the speakers raised several issues concerning the people of PoK.

In addition to this, a protest rally was organised in Muzaffarabad city of the PoK.

People chanted anti-Pakistan slogans and demanded an end to forceful occupation of the PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. They also called for an immediate withdrawal of Pakistani forces from their territory as per the United Nations Security Council resolution.

The residents of the PoK have been facing numerous issues as they allege they are treated as second-class citizens under the Pakistani occupation since 1947.

In recent days, several incidents have been reported where the Pakistani security forces kidnapped and tortured the political activists, especially the youth, who raised a voice against the Pakistani occupation and exploitation of their natural resources.

Earlier on November 5, government employees, working on contract basis in the PoK, staged a protest in Muzaffarabad demanding clearance of their monthly emoluments.

It had been several months that these employees did not receive their salaries.

Blaming Islamabad for its discriminatory policies against them, the protestors, who were working in health, education and other government sectors in PoK, demanded for regular jobs.

The Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, also known as 'Azad Kashmir', has a Prime Minister and a President, but is ruled from Islamabad. The Prime Minister of Pakistan is the chairman and chief executive of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council that manages all affairs related to the PoK.