By Ashwani Kumar

Pakistan has, for the past 78 years, consistently maintained that Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) is its "jugular vein." However, recent developments in the region have reignited debate over this claim, as allegations of heavy-handed action by Pakistani security forces against local residents continue to fuel unrest and resentment.

Over the past more than a month, protests across several parts of PoJK have reportedly been met with force. According to local groups and activists, Pakistani security forces, including the army and Punjab Police, have used live ammunition against demonstrators, resulting in the deaths of around 30 people, including young protesters. These claims have not been independently verified, while Pakistani authorities have maintained that security operations were aimed at maintaining law and order.

Residents have also alleged that restrictions on the movement of essential goods have created severe hardships. Supplies of flour, rice, milk, medicines, petrol, diesel and other daily necessities have reportedly been disrupted, with markets from Kohala Bridge to Rawalakot witnessing prolonged closures.

Dr Masood Khalid of PoJK alleged that he and his family members were dragged from his bed room during todays midnight raids, his family beaten, toys of his children broken. " Being a doctor I am in mental troma since police beaten his wife, children merciously ", he said.

Shopkeepers say food stocks have dwindled, leaving many families struggling to access basic necessities.

The political dispute behind the protests,

the present crisis traces its roots to a long-standing political controversy over 12 reserved seats in the PoJK Legislative Assembly. 

The Joint Awami Action Committee, an alliance of social and political organisations, has demanded that these reserved seats be abolished ahead of the next assembly elections.

These 12 seats are allocated to refugees who migrated from the erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan during the Partition of 1947. Six seats are reserved for refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six for refugees from the Jammu region.

Protesters argue that these reserved constituencies have become a tool through which Islamabad exercises influence over the political process in PoJK. Since these refugee voters largely reside in different parts of Pakistan rather than within PoJK itself, critics allege that the arrangement enables the federal establishment to shape the composition of the regional government instead of allowing local residents to determine their own leadership.

The issue has also sparked debate over the distribution of refugee voters.

According to available figures cited by protest groups, PoJK has a population of approximately 4.5 million. Refugee voters account for around 438,000 electors who vote for the 12 reserved seats.

However, activists claim there is a significant imbalance. Nearly four lakh refugee voters from the Jammu region elect six legislators, while refugee voters from the Kashmir region number only around 30,000 to 38,000 for the remaining six seats.

Protesters argue that this disparity raises serious questions about equal representation and electoral fairness.

For decades, critics have alleged that successive governments in PoJK have functioned largely under Islamabad's influence rather than enjoying genuine political autonomy.

The protests are not limited to electoral reforms.

Demonstrators have also demanded affordable food supplies, better healthcare facilities and improved infrastructure. Activists point out that several districts in PoJK lack advanced medical facilities such as more medical colleges, hospitals,CT scans and MRI machines, forcing critically ill patients to travel to Rawalpindi or Islamabad for specialised treatment.

They argue that demands for affordable wheat flour, rice, medicines and healthcare should not be viewed as anti-state activities but as legitimate public welfare concerns.

The political temperature further escalated after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif reportedly stated that the residents of Mirpur and Rawalakot were not Kashmiris.

The remarks sparked outrage in several parts of PoJK, particularly in districts such as Mirpur, Rawalakot, Kotli, Bhimber, Bagh and Poonch, where people primarily speak Dogri and Pahari and share strong cultural similarities with the Jammu region.

Critics questioned how such remarks could be reconciled with the political history of PoJK. Two of the region's most prominent leaders—Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, who hailed from Rawalakot, and Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan from Bagh district—served as President and Prime Minister of PoJK despite now being described as belonging to areas that are "not Kashmiri."

The controversy has intensified demands for clarification from Pakistan's political leadership.

Another contentious issue concerns allegations that PoJK survives on subsidies provided by Islamabad.

Local residents reject this claim, arguing that districts such as Mirpur make significant economic contributions through remittances sent by overseas Pakistanis, particularly those living in the United Kingdom. Community representatives claim that millions of pounds are transferred through banks in Mirpur each day, contributing substantially to Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves.

Residents further allege that many roads, electricity transformers and other local development projects have been financed by expatriate communities rather than by the federal government.

The continuing blockade of essential supplies, combined with allegations of excessive use of force against protesters, has deepened public anger across PoJK. Many residents insist that their movement is centred on constitutional rights, political representation and economic justice rather than separatist objectives.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has also expressed concern over the deteriorating situation, reportedly describing the current unrest as unprecedented and urging the government to examine the underlying causes instead of relying solely on security measures.

As tensions continue, the situation in Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir remains volatile.

Whether Islamabad chooses dialogue and political reform or continues with a security-led response could determine the future course of one of the region's most sensitive political disputes.