Muzaffarabad (The Azadi Times) — A sweeping strike by police officers across Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (PaJK) entered another day on Monday, bringing administrative operations to a standstill and choking traffic in several major cities, including Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, and Mirpur. The protest comes after a senior constable was allegedly detained and humiliated by his superior for advocating workers’ rights.
According to an official statement issued by the Jamiat Police Azad Kashmir, the collective representing police employees in the region, the unrest was sparked by what they describe as “an arbitrary, unlawful, and vengeful action” taken against Head Constable Yasir Khokhar late Sunday night.
The declaration, circulated among officers and seen by The Azadi Times, states that Khokhar was summoned to the Reserve Headquarters in Muzaffarabad at around 2:00 AM by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Saqib Abbasi and subsequently confined to the quarter guard without any legal basis.
“His only ‘crime’ was speaking out—peacefully, courageously, and sincerely—for the rights of his fellow low-ranking officers,” the statement said. “He was threatened, intimidated, but did not bow down or remain silent. This punishment was his reward.”
Widespread Disruption Across Major Cities
In response, thousands of police personnel staged protests outside district headquarters, blocking key roads and government buildings. In Rawalakot, eyewitnesses reported long queues of vehicles and a virtual shutdown of official activities. Similar scenes played out in Poonch, Mirpur, and Muzaffarabad, where angry but disciplined groups of police officers held placards demanding “justice, dignity, and constitutional rights.”
A senior officer, who spoke to The Azadi Times on condition of anonymity due to fear of reprisal, said:
“This is not just about Yasir Khokhar. Today it’s him; tomorrow it could be any of us. We are asking for respect, for fair treatment, and for our basic rights under the law. Nothing more.”
Three Demands and a Warning
The Jamiat Police Azad Kashmir outlined three immediate demands:
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Immediate reinstatement of Yasir Khokhar to his post with dignity.
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A departmental inquiry into DSP Saqib Abbasi for alleged misuse of authority.
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Assurance of constitutional and fundamental rights for all police employees, allowing them to perform their duties with economic, social, and mental security.
While reaffirming their commitment to peaceful protest, the statement warned that continued disregard of their demands would compel police from all districts to march en masse to Muzaffarabad for a larger demonstration.
“We are determined, united, and will go to any length to protect the dignity and rights of our colleagues,” the statement concluded.
Calls for Accountability
Legal experts in the region say the situation highlights deeper structural issues within the force. “A DSP cannot legally detain a subordinate arbitrarily or on personal grudges,” one former law officer told The Azadi Times. “There are clear departmental procedures which seem to have been ignored here.”
The regional administration has yet to release an official statement regarding the protests or the allegations against DSP Abbasi. Attempts by The Azadi Times to reach the police department’s spokesperson went unanswered by press time.
This strike, beyond its immediate grievance, lays bare the frustrations of rank-and-file officers who feel marginalized within the system they serve.
Reporting for The Azadi Times. Identities of interviewees have been withheld for their protection.
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