In PoK protests, weight of history, woes of the present, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• At least 15 people have been killed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) amidst widespread protests ahead of local elections.
• The protests, spearheaded by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), are driven by economic grievances, including high electricity bills and shortages of subsidized wheat.
• A recent Pakistan Supreme Court verdict upholding the reservation of 12 seats in the PoK Assembly for "refugees" has become a major flashpoint.
• The Pakistani government has responded with a crackdown, banning the JAAC and announcing bounties for its leaders.
• India has condemned the "police brutality" in PoK, while also protesting recent elections in Gilgit-Baltistan, reiterating its claim over the entire region.

Detailed Insights:

• Residents of PoK initiated protests in 2023 against rising electricity costs and scarcity of subsidized wheat, despite the region hosting the significant Mangla Dam hydropower project.
• Locals argue that the Mangla Dam was constructed without their consent, displacing many, yet they continue to face high power tariffs.
• The JAAC, comprising traders, professionals, and civil society activists, leads the movement, demanding better economic conditions and political representation.
• The controversy over the 12 reserved seats in the 53-member PoK Assembly stems from the belief that these seats, elected outside PoK, allow the federal government to control local politics.
• These reserved seats, along with others for women, religious scholars, and technocrats, mean that PoK voters directly elect only 33 members.
• Gilgit-Baltistan, another Pakistani-administered part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, also experiences underdevelopment and protests regarding economic and political rights.
• The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Gilgit-Baltistan, is a point of contention, with India consistently opposing its presence in the region.
• Pakistan has historically avoided granting Gilgit-Baltistan full provincial status to maintain its stance on the broader Kashmir dispute.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK): A region of the former princely state of Jammu and Kashmir administered by Pakistan, claimed by India.
• Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC): A civil society group leading protests in PoK against economic hardship and political disenfranchisement.
• Mangla Dam: A large multipurpose dam on the Jhelum River in PoK, a significant source of hydropower for Pakistan.
• Reserved Seats (PoK Assembly): Specific legislative seats allocated to non-resident "refugees" from Jammu and Kashmir, a key grievance for local PoK residents.
• Gilgit-Baltistan: A northern administrative territory under Pakistani control, part of the larger disputed Kashmir region.
• China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): A collection of infrastructure projects connecting China's Xinjiang province with Pakistan's Gwadar port, passing through Gilgit-Baltistan.