In the heart of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the streets echo with the cries of those burdened by taxes, their voices rising like flames against the night sky. Mirpur, a city of resilience, witnessed sorrow as clashes marred its peace, claiming a brave soul and leaving many wounded, their spirits battered but unbroken.
Under the banner of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), a relentless protest unfolds, now into its third day. A symphony of silence envelops the region, where public life has ground to a halt in pursuit of a 10-point charter of demands. Streets once alive with bustling activity now stand deserted, public transport silent, shops shuttered, and markets abandoned.
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A solemn procession, a long march from Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli, embarks towards the capital, Muzaffarabad, defying all odds imposed by authority. Convoys press on despite barricades, embodying the undying spirit of the people.
But amidst this struggle, clashes erupt like thunderstorms, leaving in their wake wounded officers like ASP Mirpur Khawar Ali and Assistant Commissioner Dadayal Sardar Rizwan, struck by stones hurled in defiance. Tension grips every corner, from Mirpur to Muzaffarabad, a cloud of unrest hanging heavy over the land.
In the cloak of night, connectivity falters as internet services vanish, casting residents into isolated shadows, struggling to communicate and seek solace.
Then, a call to arms—Rangers deployed, guardians of order amidst chaos, tasked to shield the symbols of governance from the tempest outside. Their arrival via Kohala Bridge signals a shift, a new chapter in the saga of dissent.
At Quaid-e-Azam Stadium, grief spills forth in waves, as mourners gather to bid farewell to Inspector Police Adnan Qureshi, a hero fallen to a bullet’s cruel strike amid the turmoil of protest.
Amidst this crucible, Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq steps forth, his words seeking reconciliation amid discord. In a plea for peace, he speaks of promises made, of a government’s earnest quest for relief, and extends an olive branch to the voices in protest.
Yet, beneath the veneer of calm, the dance of dissent persists, a symphony of demands echoing through the valleys. The struggle for justice, for a voice to be heard, unfolds in the heart of Azad Kashmir, a testament to the resilience of a people unwilling to be silenced.
