Hundreds of individuals displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) gathered in Jammu on Friday to voice strong opposition against alleged atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistan Army on the region’s inhabitants. The demonstrators, organized by SOS International, an advocacy group for displaced PoK populations, called upon the Indian government to actively pursue the liberation of the occupied territory.
The protest, spearheaded by Rajiv Chuni, the chairman of SOS International, saw participants carrying placards and chanting slogans denouncing Pakistan and its military leadership. Their central demand was for PoK to be reintegrated with India. Chuni, addressing reporters during the demonstration, asserted that Pakistan had subjected the people of PoK to a systematic regime of repression and exploitation. He appealed to the Indian government to take decisive action to free PoK from what he described as Pakistan’s occupation and to integrate it into the Indian union. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that Chuni further claimed that the populace in the occupied region has come to recognize Pakistan’s untrustworthiness, a sentiment reportedly shared by those who migrated from the area during the 1947 partition.
Questioning Pakistan’s governance in the region, Chuni highlighted what he perceived as inconsistencies in Islamabad’s portrayal of PoK as an independent entity with its own institutions. He pointed out that mainstream Pakistani political parties actively participate in elections within PoK. “If the region is truly independent, why are Pakistani political parties contesting elections there? Why are the people not allowed to decide their own future?” he queried, as reported by the Tribune India. Chuni also alleged that Pakistan was engaged in the exploitation of the region’s natural resources, including vital water and electricity supplies, as well as its tourism potential and mineral wealth. He contended that the local residents derived minimal benefit from these resources, leading to forced migration from their ancestral lands.
Expressing solidarity with the people of PoK, Chuni emphasized their ongoing struggle for fundamental rights despite facing significant hardships and loss of life. He urged the central government in New Delhi to lend its support to their cause and reiterated the demand for the liberation of the occupied territory. The displaced families, he stated, harbored a deep desire to return to their ancestral homes, a sentiment that fuels their persistent advocacy. The protest underscored the long-standing grievances and aspirations of the displaced PoK population, who continue to seek resolution through integration with India.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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