Serious irregularities in the results released by a university in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), have led students to the streets, demanding a re-examination. The university’s demand for fees for the re-examination has led to student protests that have escalated into a movement. The protests have gradually spread to other areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, demanding solutions to other issues. The protests are now being supported by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JACC), formed to demand rights and reforms for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK).
Reasons for the Protests
The current uprising in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is not being led by any extremist leader or group, but by the local youth. For quite some time, there has been a deep sense of discontent among the people of PoK due to poor governance, widespread corruption, and the lack of adequate fulfillment of basic needs. Subsequently, widespread irregularities in education have only added fuel to the fire. These factors have led the youth of the region to take to the streets.
Muzaffarabad University is accused of delaying the release of intermediate exam results for students and significantly manipulating their scores. When a re-examination was demanded, the university demanded a fee of ₹1,500 per subject. This protest, which began at the university, has now escalated into a movement that has spread to areas surrounding Muzaffarabad.
The university is accused of delaying the release of intermediate exam results for students by six months and of gross irregularities in evaluation. Students say the new digital examination system is flawed and was published on October 30th, six months late. They allege they were declared passed in subjects they did not take, while receiving low marks in those they did. Additional fees were demanded for the re-examination process. This has led to widespread dissatisfaction and anger among all students. They say they already pay lakhs of rupees per semester. Most of the students are from poor families, making re-paying fees extremely difficult. Most of the students are between 18 and 25 years of age.
Why is this movement important?
This movement is not just about education-related problems, but also about widespread unemployment, lack of proper representation, and neglect of rights. Despite electricity production in POK, the people there face severe power cuts and high tariffs. Flour and other essential food items are becoming very expensive. Hospitals are facing a crisis. The then Prime Minister of PoK, Anwarul Haq, is proving ineffective in addressing these problems. With minimal subsidies or government assistance on goods, the people are finding it difficult to even manage their daily lives. Meanwhile, the people of PoK, seeing the development, employment opportunities, and high-level construction projects taking place in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region, are now questioning their government, which their government has no answers to.
Regional Relevance and Impact —–
Instability in PoK is bound to impact South Asia. A pattern has been observed in recent regime changes in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, adjacent to India, with discontent among the younger generation being a major factor. This type of instability has a psychological and political impact on all neighboring countries, profoundly affecting their external and internal political equations. Whether this is right or wrong is a matter for further discussion. But wherever there are flawed governance systems or incorrect policies, alarm bells are ringing. Because in this era of the information revolution, no information can be hidden. And today’s young generation knows how to analyze their own thoughts and protect their own interests.
If such situations are not identified and addressed in the right direction, they could escalate into violence and cause unrest in the region. Anti-social elements and hostile nations are always on the lookout to exploit such situations.
Conclusion ———
The Pakistani government is shaken by the past consequences of the movement’s spread to other parts of Pakistan. The Pakistani government appears in no position to withstand this movement, as both extremist groups, the TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) and the TLP (Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan), pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s internal peace. Meanwhile, the recent bloody conflicts with Afghanistan and India have created a tense situation on Pakistan’s eastern and western borders. It remains to be seen how the Pakistani government addresses this issue. Only time will tell whether the voices of youth will be suppressed or spark change. Every generation has two choices: adapt or question. And in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gen Z has clearly chosen to question.
