POJK IN DOLDRUMS
The famous dialogue of yesteryears superstar Raj Kumar ‘Jinke Ghar Sheeshe Ke Hon, Voh Doosron Pe Pather Nahi Fainkte’, suits well to Pakistan’s phlegmatic attitude towards people living in its occupied territory–Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) as reports coming from across the LoC are appalling with people facing atrocities of both Federal Government and the PoJK Government as they stand against the irking power outage and highest ever electricity bills. Pakistan which never gets tired of making baseless accusations against India in local and global forums should first look at the plight of Kashmiris living in its occupied territory as they have been forced to come on roads and keep at stake their lives because the inflation especially the scenario with regard to electricity supply and billing has gone haywire with people showing their inability to cope up with load shedding and pay hefty bills which have gone beyond their paying capacity. This dwindling situation has created mayhem and the PoJK is witnessing violent protests wherein Pakistan Government is indulging in blatant use of force and firing injuring many residents and apprehending scores of others showing its true barbaric face to the world. The ruthless government in Pakistan, which is ordering firing on unarmed people of PoJK for merely protesting against the power outage, is often seen on global platforms spitting venom against India over acting tough against the heavily armed terrorists in J&K. This is sheer hypocrisy of the rogue and unprincipled nation Pakistan because it is showing no mercy or regard towards the people reeling under highest ever inflation and meager facilities in PoJK today. It is a cause of worry that the people are subjected to inhuman treatment due to long and uncertain load shedding turns and issuing nerve-racking high electricity bills despite the fact that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir is producing more than 4000 MW of electricity and its total need is even less than 350 MW.
Reportedly, a number of protestors sustained injuries in the Poonch area of PoJK after security forces fired indiscriminately at them over the issue of dwindling power scenario. Over 65 locals have been arrested so far and some 30 of them have been booked under terror law amid massive protests taking place across PoJK over high inflation and denial of basic human rights by the Pakistani authorities. Though number of deaths of protestors has not been disclosed yet the hapless people in PoJK are terming the government action as an act of state terrorism as the police have opened straight fire on the protestors.