Recently, a hashtag demanding support for Kashmir, “#KashmirKiAwaazBandnakaro” (Do not silence the voice of Kashmir.) gained considerable attention on social media platforms in Pakistan. The trend came against the backdrop of ongoing protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) where people have been protesting economic difficulties and demanding reforms.

The heart of the movement is fear of the cost of living, the high cost of electricity, inflation and the price of basic commodities like wheat flour. Ordinary citizens are struggling to meet basic needs and government privileges and political inequalities remain unaddressed, protest organisers say.

Local activist groups, including the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), have largely put together the protests. Supporters say the movement is a peaceful campaign for economic justice and greater accountability. They say the protests are a sign of widespread public frustration, not political unrest.

The controversy escalated when authorities reportedly detained several activists and increased security in anticipation of planned protests. Law enforcement officials said the moves were necessary to keep order, but critics said they were crushing peaceful dissent.

The issue was greatly amplified by social media. Supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, along with independent activists and journalists, helped to push the hashtag into Pakistan’s top trends. Videos, pictures and personal accounts from demonstrators spread rapidly around the internet, shining a national spotlight on local grievances that might otherwise have received little attention.

The controversy over the protests poses a larger question for many societies: How should governments respond when economic frustrations spill over into mass public protests? The AJK events are a case in point for the rising power of social media to influence political discourse and shed light on regional issues at the national level, although views are divided.

As the debate continues, the protests are a reminder that economic issues are often front and centre in politics. It is too early to tell whether the protests will bring about any lasting policy changes, but they have succeeded in raising awareness of the problems faced by many Azad Kashmiris.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)