Spelling more trouble to the Nawaz Sharif government besides the international isolation over terrorism, residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) today protested against the provincial government and accused it of providing a safe haven to terrorists in the region.
Alleging that normal life of residents in the region had been severely hit due to the government’s stand to protect terrorists, protestors took to streets in different parts of the region and voiced concern over the setting up of terror camps that they claim has made their lives ‘a living hell’.
In Kotli, locals said that giving shelter to terrorists will not solve the problems, but rather worsen it.
In Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, they alleged that the banned terror groups are operating several terror camps in the region and are provided with food and ration.
“If management doesn’t end Taliban’s terror camps and ‘no-go’ areas in Diamer, Gilgit, Baseen and others, then we’ll take action,” a local from Gilgit said.
Protests were also held in Chinari, Mirpur, Gilgit, Diamer and Neelum Valley. Agitating locals said that the terror training camps had turned their lives upside down.
They further said that several terror groups are located near the Line of Control (LoC) that are used for Pakistan’s proxy war against India.
PoK residents have been demanding the removal of terror camps for years but the government has always ignored their grievances.
This is not the first time that people in PoK have protested against the Sharif government. In last few months, several protests were held against the government’s atrocities in the region.
Today’s protest comes a week after Indian Army conducted surgical strikes in PoK targeting terror launchpads. It is said that over 50 militants were killed in the operation.
Yesterday, India TV had reported that at least 12 new terror launchpads have come up within PoK following India’s strikes and that close to 100 militants are planning to infiltrate into the Indian side.
