‘Freedom From Occupation’: PoK Protest Leader Asks Pakistan To 'Get Lost From Our State' | Exclusive

Last Updated:June 16, 2026, 12:09 IST

JAAC leader Sardar Aman accused Pakistan’s military establishment of restricting supplies and creating economic pressure on the local population

The anti-government protest movement that began over soaring electricity bills and wheat prices in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has entered a far more political phase, with protest leaders now openly questioning Pakistan’s role in the region and demanding greater economic and political autonomy.

At a recent gathering in Rawalakot, leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the Awami Action Committee launched some of their sharpest attacks yet on Pakistan’s military establishment, accusing Islamabad of blocking supplies, exploiting local resources and preventing economic engagement with India.

The remarks signal a significant escalation from the movement’s original demands, which centred on subsidies, inflation and governance issues.

From Economic Grievances To Political Defiance

The current unrest traces its roots to the mass protests that swept PoK in 2024 and 2025. Demonstrators initially mobilised against high electricity tariffs, rising food prices and what they described as discriminatory economic policies imposed by Islamabad.

The protests eventually forced Pakistan’s government to announce relief measures, including wheat subsidies and reductions in electricity costs. However, protest leaders argued that the concessions did not address deeper concerns about political representation, resource control and economic rights.

In recent months, the movement has increasingly adopted language that challenges Pakistan’s administrative control over the region.

‘Pakistan Is Stopping Our Food’

Speaking at the Rawalakot gathering, JAAC leader Sardar Aman accused Pakistan’s military establishment of restricting supplies and creating economic pressure on the local population. “Pakistan military is stopping our food and rations," Aman alleged, while claiming that authorities were attempting to weaken the protest movement through economic measures.

He also rejected suggestions that residents opposed subsidies on wheat and essential commodities, arguing instead that the movement’s demand was for fair treatment and economic justice rather than the withdrawal of government support.

Demand To Open Trade Routes With India

One of the most striking aspects of Aman’s speech was his demand that alternative trade routes with India be opened if Pakistan fails to ensure economic access and supplies. Addressing supporters, he declared that “all trade routes will open soon—either from Pakistan or India."

The remark reflects growing frustration among sections of the protest movement over economic isolation and limited commercial opportunities. Cross-Line of Control trade between Jammu and Kashmir and PoK was suspended years ago, removing a key channel of economic interaction for communities on both sides.

‘Defending Against India Is Our Issue’

Aman also challenged Pakistan’s long-standing argument that its military presence in the region is necessary to protect Kashmiris from India. “Defending against India is our issue, not your business," he said, arguing that local residents should determine their own political future.

He further accused Pakistan of exploiting the region’s natural resources, alleging that Islamabad was “looting our waters and resources" while failing to adequately invest in local development.

Accusations Of Suppression

The protest leader also claimed that security agencies were increasingly treating activists as extremists and terrorists. According to Aman, peaceful political mobilisation is being portrayed as a security threat by authorities seeking to curb dissent.

A Challenge To Pakistan’s Kashmir Narrative

The latest statements are significant because they move beyond demands for economic relief and directly challenge Pakistan’s political narrative on Kashmir.

For decades, Islamabad has presented itself internationally as an advocate for Kashmiri self-determination. However, critics within PoK have increasingly argued that local residents themselves have limited control over key political and economic decisions.

By demanding greater autonomy, questioning Pakistan’s military role and even calling for alternative trade access through India, protest leaders are pushing the movement into territory that was largely absent from earlier demonstrations.

What Next?

Aman concluded his speech by declaring that the movement would continue and eventually reach Muzaffarabad, the administrative capital of PoK.

Whether the protests retain momentum remains to be seen, but the rhetoric emerging from sections of the movement suggests that what began as an agitation over wheat prices and electricity bills is evolving into a broader challenge to Pakistan’s governance model in the region.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

News world ‘Freedom From Occupation’: PoK Protest Leader Asks Pakistan To 'Get Lost From Our State' | Exclusive

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