INTERNATIONAL: POK Protests: Gen Z Uprising Against Pakistan Turns Intense
Fresh unrest grips Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where student-led demonstrations have erupted into violence just weeks after economic protests simmered down.
Sparked by grievances over soaring education costs and flawed exam grading, the agitation signals deepening youth frustration with governance in the region.
Authorities face a delicate balancing act as calls for reform echo across Muzaffarabad and beyond.
Spark of Student Anger
The demonstrations kicked off at the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in Muzaffarabad, drawing crowds of undergraduates fed up with fee structures that demand hundreds of thousands of rupees every few months.
What began as demands for better facilities and lower costs quickly snowballed, pulling in intermediate students and amplifying voices from the Gen Z cohort.
Local reports highlight a pattern of administrative hikes that strain families already reeling from broader economic woes.
Exam Glitches Fuel the Fire
Tensions peaked with the release of first-year intermediate results on October 30, delayed by six months and marred by the rollout of a new e-marking system.
Students decried unexpectedly low scores, with some claiming absentees somehow passed while diligent test-takers suffered.
The Mirpur education board has since formed a review panel, but protesters seek outright abolition of rechecking fees, pegged at Rs.1,500 per subject, and a full overhaul of the digital process.
From Marches to Mayhem
Initially peaceful rallies turned chaotic when gunfire from an unidentified source wounded at least one protester, igniting widespread fury.
Crowds responded by torching tires, smashing property, and blocking roads, with viral footage capturing the pandemonium in Muzaffarabad.
Slogans targeted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration, blending academic gripes with broader indictments of corruption and neglect.
Echoes of South Asian Uprisings
These stirrings bear striking parallels to youth-driven revolts in neighboring nations, where student power toppled entrenched regimes.
In Bangladesh last year, protests ousted Sheikh Hasina’s government amid cries for justice and opportunity.
Nepal saw Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s coalition crumble under similar pressures earlier in 2025, fueled by demands for transparency and development.
Observers note how PoK’s mobilization taps into that same vein of generational impatience with unkept promises.
Mounting Pressure on Islamabad
For Sharif’s coalition, already battered by opposition from Imran Khan’s camp and strains with Army Chief Asim Munir, the PoK flare-up adds urgent layers of complexity.
The Joint Awami Action Committee, fresh from October’s tax concessions, has lent support, framing the unrest as part of a larger quest for autonomy and equity.
With communications patchy and troop deployments rising, the risk of escalation looms large, testing Pakistan’s resolve to address root causes before discontent spreads.
As the dust settles on these initial clashes, the trajectory remains fluid, with youth at the forefront demanding not just fixes for fees and grades, but a genuine stake in their future.
Whether this marks a turning point or a fleeting storm could redefine regional dynamics in the months ahead.