The recent wave of protests began earlier this month, when students at the University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (UAJK) in Muzaffarabad, PoK, rallied against a massive fee hike and exam result discrepancies. The dispute revolved around the implementation of a new digital assessment or ‘e-marking’ system at the matriculation and intermediate levels.
After a six-month wait, the results of the intermediate first-year exams were made public, which left thousands of students dismayed. Several students said they earned unexpectedly low scores, while others claimed they had passed in subjects they had never taken.Then, a committee was established by the Mirpur Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education to examine the procedure and a fee of ₹ 1,500 per subject was introduced, which further fuelled the anger.
But, according to Kashmir Digital, the management of the university refuted reports of a 60% fee rise, describing them as ‘false and baseless.’ The proposed
₹ 1,000 adjustment in transport costs, which had not yet been approved, was immediately withdrawn, and it stressed that only a 10% yearly rise was allowed under current regulations.The peaceful demonstrations turned violent when a man opened fire on the students earlier this week at the protest site before fleeing the scene. The incident, which reportedly occurred in the presence of police officers, injured one student.
Soon after the incident, videos of the firing and ensuing chaos went viral online. After this, students reacted by blocking roads, chanting slogans and burning tyres against the government and the Pakistan Army.
The recent unrest in PoK is reminiscent of the Gen Z protest in Nepal, where students revolted against corruption, a lack of opportunities, and development following the government’s move to prohibit social media.
The Sharif government is alarmed, fearing the unrest could become a nationwide movement.
Earlier in September, massive protests were reported across PoK when talks broke down between officials and leaders of the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC), a representative body of protestors.
The protestors had issued a 38-point charter, demanding that the government embrace it or they would take it to the streets, which they finally did, resulting in violent battles with police that killed at least ten people, including police officers. Several police officers and citizens were also injured during the protests.
