Days of unrest have swept through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as hundreds of students and young activists mostly from the Gen Z generation took to the streets, accusing the Pakistani government and military establishment of “systemic exploitation” and decades of neglect.
According to reports by multiple news outlets, what began as a student protest over steep university fees, delayed exam results and alleged irregularities in Pakistan’s “e-marking” system has now escalated into a full-scale youth movement against Islamabad’s policies.
Students and other institutions held demonstrations across Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Bagh, shouting slogans demanding “freedom from corruption and military rule.”
“We are tired of empty promises. Education has become unaffordable, jobs are scarce, and our voices are constantly silenced,” said a student leader from Muzaffarabad University, as quoted by local news agencies.
“This is not just about fees anymore, it’s about our future.”
As reported by news outlets, many protesters also blamed Pakistan’s powerful military for interfering in education, governance and local administration. The situation turned tense when a man reportedly opened fire on the demonstrators, injuring one student, even as police personnel looked on. Videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage across PoK.
Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in several areas, while educational institutions remained shut following the unrest. Witnesses said protesters set tyres ablaze, blocked key roads and clashed with security forces.
A teacher from Rawalakot as quoted by a news outlet said, “The new generation in PoK is far more aware and connected than before. Social media has given them the power to question Pakistan’s decades-old narrative.”
Analysts and reports say the protests expose deepening resentment among PoK’s youth over Pakistan’s failed governance, crumbling education infrastructure, lack of jobs and the military’s overreach. The unrest, as noted by Indian outlets, reflects a growing call for accountability and autonomy within the region illegally occupied by Pakistan since 1947.
“This uprising shows that the youth in PoK no longer see Islamabad as their saviour,” said a political observer based in Jammu. “They are realising the cost of being denied true democracy and development.”
The protests follow months of agitation in PoK over soaring electricity bills and wheat prices, issues that have already exposed Pakistan’s collapsing economy. Observers believe these latest youth-led demonstrations mark the most significant sign yet of a generational awakening against Pakistan’s control of the region.
While Islamabad has tried to downplay the events, Indian officials have said the unrest in PoK is a “natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach” and a clear reminder that “voices of freedom cannot be silenced forever.”
