As thousands of civilians rise against Pakistan’s oppressive rule in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), one question echoes louder than ever where are the voices of Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone, and Engineer Rashid? Why this selective silence when innocent Muslims are being gunned down by Pakistani security forces? These leaders never hesitate to accuse India of human rights violations that has never happened, yet when Pakistan’s army opens fire on unarmed protesters, their moral compass vanishes. At least 12 civilians have been killed and over 200 injured in PoK as the Pakistani Army and police crack down on massive protests led by the Awami Action Committee (AAC). But the so-called “champions of Kashmiri rights” have chosen to remain silent, exposing their hypocrisy before the entire nation.
A Civilian Uprising Against Pakistan’s Oppression
What began as a local protest over economic injustice has turned into a full-blown civilian revolt against Islamabad’s military establishment. The people of PoK have had enough of being treated as colonial subjects. The Awami Action Committee (AAC) has mobilised thousands, bringing the region to a halt. Their 38-point charter of demands includes tax relief, flour and electricity subsidies, and the completion of long-pending development projects. But more importantly, they are demanding the elimination of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan seats that have long been manipulated by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies to control PoK politics.
When Pakistani security forces responded with live bullets, the anger of civilians only grew stronger. From Dadyal to Muzaffarabad, from Rawalakot to Neelum Valley and Kotli, streets are now echoing with slogans rejecting Pakistan’s occupation. Eyewitnesses report that Islamabad has sent thousands of troops from Punjab to crush the movement. The internet was shut down at midnight in PoK as the regime feared images of state violence would reach the world. Yet despite all repression, the people have risen in unison, refusing to bow before Pakistan’s Punjabi-dominated military.
Pakistan’s Double Standards and Global Silence
The hypocrisy surrounding this tragedy is glaring. When even a small protest occurs in Kashmir, global media outlets like BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera rush to amplify the story with headlines on “Indian oppression.” But today, as Pakistani forces shoot peaceful Muslim civilians in PoK, these same outlets look the other way. The same “human rights activists” who cry over Gaza have no words for PoK. Why? Because it doesn’t suit their political narrative.
Pakistan’s state-run media has been ordered not to cover the protests. Meanwhile, international media houses that once highlighted unrest in Ladakh are now silent on the massacre in Muzaffarabad. The selective outrage is staggering. Even Islamic nations that often lecture India on minority rights have remained quiet. The sad truth is that when Muslims kill Muslims as Pakistan’s army is doing in PoK the world chooses silence.
In contrast, Indians are watching closely. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement through spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, saying: “We have seen reports on protests in several areas of Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir, including brutalities by Pakistani forces on innocent civilians. We believe this is a natural consequence of Pakistan’s oppressive approach and systemic plundering of resources from these territories.” India’s stand is clear Pakistan must be held accountable for its atrocities in PoK.
The Hypocrisy of Kashmir’s Political Class
Back home, the silence of Kashmiri political elites is shameful. Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone, and Engineer Rashid have often projected themselves as defenders of Kashmiri rights. They never miss a chance to attack India, even over baseless accusations. Yet today, when real blood is being shed by Pakistani bullets in PoK, they have nothing to say.
If they truly cared about Kashmiris, they would have spoken out for the people of PoK people who share the same language, faith, and identity. Their silence proves what many already know: their politics is not about justice or humanity, but about opportunism. These leaders have built their careers on rhetoric, not courage. They will raise their voice against Bharat to stay relevant but will never condemn Pakistan, fearing to upset their political calculations. Meanwhile, ordinary civilians in PoK unarmed, impoverished, and desperate are showing more courage than these self-proclaimed “leaders.”
Global Fallout and Islamabad’s Panic
Reports indicate that Islamabad’s panic is growing. Intelligence inputs suggest that the Pakistani Army may attempt a misadventure along the Line of Control (LoC) to divert public anger away from PoK. The Indian Armed Forces are now on the highest alert. Meanwhile, PoK protesters have captured several Islamabad Police personnel who were sent to crush the demonstrations. Images of Pakistani police kneeling before angry crowds in PoK have gone viral, despite internet restrictions.
Even Pakistani diaspora communities are now rising in anger. In Birmingham, UK, British Kashmiris confronted and heckled Pakistan’s Consulate General over the killing of civilians in PoK. This unrest marks one of the largest grassroots movements in PoK’s modern history uniting citizens across ethnic and class divides.
The Courage of PoK’s People, The Cowardice of Others
The people of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir are writing a new chapter of defiance. Their blood-soaked struggle is a reminder that Pakistan’s occupation rests not on legitimacy but on brutality. And yet, those who claim to represent Kashmiri voices Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Sajad Lone, and others stand exposed. Their silence speaks volumes.
The people of PoK are Muslims too, yet no outrage rises for them because their oppressor wears the same religion’s name. The hypocrisy is global, and it is local. But as PoK’s brave civilians continue their fight for justice, they remind the world that truth and courage can never be suppressed forever.
