Muzaffarabad: Following days of clashes and unrest over soaring prices, an alliance of civil rights groups in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or POK) has called off a planned protest march. The decision comes after Pak Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a significant grant of 24 billion rupees ($86 million) to address the protesters’ demands.
Shaukat Nawaz Mir, the head of the alliance, announced the cancellation of the march in Muzaffarabad, the region’s capital, stating, “The government has accepted all of our demands,” urging protesters to disperse peacefully.
Mir further pressed for financial compensation for the families of the three protesters and one police official who lost their lives in the violence. The casualties occurred during clashes on Monday evening when paramilitary troops opened fire in response to an attack. Another police official had previously died in clashes over the weekend.
Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Chaudhry of Kashmir ( POK) revealed that the allocated funds would help alleviate the financial strain on the region, particularly by reducing prices. Notably, the subsidized rate for 40 kgs (88.2 lb) of flour will see a significant drop from 3,100 rupees to 2,000 rupees. Additionally, Chaudhry announced a substantial decrease in electricity prices.
The protests coincided with the arrival of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Islamabad to negotiate a new long-term loan agreement. The IMF has expressed concerns about the social unrest triggered by the high cost of living, warning that fiscal challenges could hinder the government’s policy implementation efforts.
