PoJK administration closes schools ahead of major protests on May 11

As the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) announced mass protests on May 11, the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) administration has ordered closure of all government schools for a week.

Crowds of Pakistani defense personnel are arriving in PoJK to suppress the upcoming protests. On the other hand, the local leadership of JAAC has vowed to hold the protests to resolve the issues of the people of PoJK.

PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza also raised the same issue, saying in his statement that “POJK is entering a very unstable situation. The PoJK administration is preparing to counter the May 11 long march and the sit-in at the Muzaffarabad Legislative Assembly with violence. The people participating in these protests have always been peaceful for the last nine months. There have been no incidents of violence initiated by these protesters.

“Now that the situation is getting out of hand, it is clear that steps are being taken to crush the civil rights movement. Government schools have been ordered to be closed for a week, and the Defense Frontier Corps and Punjab Province Constabulary have taken up their positions in these schools,” he said.

He also said that the situation in the area is worsening and JAAC has also announced a shutdown strike if the administration uses violence.

“Although the people of PoJK are resilient, they have taken an oath on the graves of their elders that they will fight against oppression till their last breath. They will not back down until their demands are met. “The situation in PoJK is becoming very serious and a warning has been issued by JAAC stating that if the administration resorts to violence, there will be an indefinite strike across Pakistan.”

According to the activist, several military trucks carrying personnel have entered deep into PoJK with the aim of suppressing the upcoming movement.