Rawalakot: A complete shutdown was observed in the Poonch division of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir as thousands of residents took to the streets to protest prolonged electricity outages amid freezing winter conditions.
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The strike was called by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, which announced a full-day lockdown on December 16, paralyzing commercial activity, transport, and public life across the region. Protesters blocked major roads and gathered in public spaces despite temperatures falling below minus zero degrees Celsius in several mountainous areas.
Residents say the power crisis has intensified at a time when access to electricity is critical for heating, healthcare, and basic survival.
“In many parts of Poonch, electricity has been unavailable for extended hours, sometimes for days,” local residents told The Azadi Times. “People are being forced to sit on the roads in extreme cold to make their voices heard.”
Leadership Voices Concern Over Government Response
Speaking to protesters, Sardar Umar Nazir Kashmiri, a senior leader and core committee member of the Joint Awami Action Committee, expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of seriousness from the authorities.
“We believed that our demands would be addressed through dialogue,” he said. “However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Government of Pakistan is not treating this matter with the urgency it deserves.”
He added that the committee had repeatedly raised concerns about electricity shortages, pricing, and infrastructure but received no meaningful assurances.
The protests come as winter tightens its grip on Kashmir’s high-altitude regions, where sub-zero temperatures are common and snowfall often cuts off remote communities. Civil society groups and local activists warn that continued power shortages could have severe humanitarian consequences, particularly for children, the elderly, and patients dependent on electric heating and medical equipment.
Despite harsh weather, demonstrators remained seated on roads throughout the day, chanting slogans and demanding immediate restoration of electricity, transparent energy policies, and accountability.
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No Official Statement Yet
As of Tuesday evening, no formal statement had been issued by the regional administration or federal authorities regarding the shutdown or the protesters’ demands.
Observers note that public anger over governance and essential services has been growing across Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where residents argue that energy-producing regions continue to face shortages while electricity generated locally is transmitted elsewhere.
The Joint Awami Action Committee has stated that protests will continue if authorities fail to engage in meaningful dialogue. Organizers emphasized that their movement remains peaceful but warned that public patience is wearing thin.
For now, Poonch remains tense, with residents bracing for another cold night — without electricity — and awaiting a response from those in power.
