As Pakistan Pakistan in turmoil, seeks to establish itself as a responsible regional actor on the global stage kashmir (pak occupied kashmir) is exposing deep cracks closer to home.The movement intensified in early June, leading to violent clashes between protesters and security forces. The unrest comes at an awkward moment for Pakistan, which has recently projected diplomatic influence through its participation in regional peace efforts. still in turmoil pak occupied kashmir Attention is drawing to a different reality, marked by public anger, political discontent and growing criticism of Islamabad’s control over the region.
What are the protests about?
The current PoK protests are not a recent development but have stemmed from sustained public anger since 2023. Initially, the protests were mainly over rising electricity bills, inflation and wheat subsidies.In response, businessmen, lawyers, students and civil society formed the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and issued a 38-point charter demanding subsidized flour, fair electricity tariffs, withdrawal of new taxes, curbs on official allowances and reform of governance.Ultimately, with elections due in PoK in July, high on the agenda of the protesters became the demand to abolish the 12 reserved seats in the Legislative Assembly of PoK, which are reserved for Kashmiri refugees and their descendants living in Pakistan.
Distribution of seats in POK assembly
Under the so-called interim constitution of PoK, the territorial assembly has 53 seats, and 12 of them are elected not by people living in PoK but by Kashmiri refugees settled in provinces across Pakistan.Such legislative arrangements are seen as an attempt by Islamabad to influence the so-called ‘sovereign’ decision-making process of the region by diluting the vote of the people actually living in PoK.However, while a high-level government committee had earlier reached an agreement on 36 of the 38 demands of JAAC, on June 7 the Supreme Court in POK said that Kashmiri refugees in the territorial assembly enjoy constitutional protection and the 12 seats cannot be eliminated through administrative or executive measures. The government said that this is not a refusal to negotiate but a recognition of constitutional limits.
Pakistan’s provinces are made up of land, not people.
Underlying the issues is a deep grievance of resource exploitation. PoK hydropower and other natural resources are systematically extracted for Pakistan’s benefit, while nothing is done to improve the lives of local residents.Mangla Dam on the Jhelum River, located in Mirpur district, is a major multipurpose project, whose installed capacity has now increased from 1,000 MW to 1,310 MW, directly supplying to the national grid of Pakistan. The Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project near Muzaffarabad adds an additional 969 MW. Despite the contribution, the region itself suffers from an energy crisis and high electricity tariffs.According to ACAPS, about 40% of POK’s population would live below the poverty line in 2023, underscoring the gap between resource contribution and human development.Balochistan There is one such story; It is the largest province of Pakistan, covering 44% of the land area. According to a report by the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), the key fields of Sui, Uch, Pirkoh, Loti and Zarghun still account for about 36% of national gas production, while the province itself consumes only 17%, with the rest flowing to other regions. Paper currency, significant copper, gold and other mineral deposits in Sandak and Reko Dik.Yet 47% of the population falls under poverty, compared to the national average of 28.9%. Dera Bugti, which is home to the Sui gas field, one of the largest regions of Pakistan, is often ranked lowest in the National Human Development Index.Both Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Balochistan reflect a stark paradox: they are at the heart of Pakistan’s resource economy, yet remain among its poorest and most vulnerable regions.
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According to Ashok Sharma, geopolitical expert and visiting fellow at the Australian Defense Force Academy, “From a strategic perspective, these developments pose challenges for Pakistan as they highlight the lack of governance in geographically sensitive and strategically important areas. PoK borders India and is a key part of the broader Kashmir dispute, while Balochistan hosts important projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), including the Gwadar port and major mining projects. Therefore, continued instability places additional pressure on Pakistan’s security apparatus and governance institutions.“Separatist sentiment is really very strong at the moment, not just in PoK, but also in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) regions. India’s ideal position is to support democracy and human rights issues through diplomatic channels,” said Rajan Kumar, professor at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University.
How does Pakistan control PoK while calling it ‘independent’?
Apart from the criterion of 12 reserved seats, Pakistan ensures its control over PoK through the foundation of its constitutional principles.On 14 August 1974, the Pakistani federal government led by then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto promulgated the Interim Constitution of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly of PoK.It provided a formal, written legal structure for the management of the disputed territory and gave Islamabad supreme legislative and executive powers over important matters such as defence, foreign policy and even the currency used.Despite having its own assembly and Prime Minister, PoK’s institutions are ‘hollow’.Under Article 7(3) of the Interim Constitution, no person or political party in PoK will be allowed to propagate against the ideology of merger of the state with Pakistan, or take part in prejudicial or harmful activities. This effectively outlaws all political options in PoK, except support for merger with Pakistan.Under Article 56, the government in Islamabad can dismiss any elected PoK government. A system shaped in such a way that decision makers in Islamabad get the upper hand, treating PoK as a temporary entity rather than a fully empowered federal entity.However, despite being under Pakistani control, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has no representation in the National Assembly or Senate of Pakistan, so residents are subject to federal decisions such as defense and foreign policy, with no direct say in those institutions.
burning house peacemaker
The unrest in Pakistan presents a surprising paradox. While Islamabad is presenting itself as a stable and reliable regional actor through its mediation in the recent US-Iran peace process, it is grappling with deep internal instability. At least 7 people were killed in two bomb blasts in north-western Pakistan on Saturday.
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The country continues to face security challenges, including separatist violence in Balochistan, terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and growing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This contradiction highlights a broader dilemma for Islamabad: while it seeks diplomatic influence abroad and recognition as a responsible stakeholder in regional affairs, recurring internal conflicts continue to raise questions about its own governance, security, and political stability.“The ethnic composition in PoK has completely changed over the past few years, making the situation even more complex. We must raise these concerns at the UN and other international forums on human rights grounds.” It is difficult to get involved directly as this area is Indian as per the parliamentary resolution, but taking it back could lead to a major border conflict”, Kumar said.At one level, the PoK protests resemble a familiar bread-and-butter rebellion over electricity bills, wheat prices and taxes. At a deeper level, they are a direct conflict between the hardships of life and the constitutional architecture designed to keep the region weak, dependent and safely pro-Pakistan.The same interim constitution that bars any party or candidate from questioning Pakistan’s accession and swearing allegiance to that final state also allows Islamabad to dismiss elected governments and help build a majority in Muzaffarabad through 12 non-resident ‘refugee seats’ using voters who do not even live in PoK.
