Nosheen Khwaja
MUZAFFARABAD: The capital city of Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PAK) witnessed a complete shutdown as public transport remained off the roads on Thursday.
The strike was organised to pressurise the government to withdraw the recently promulgated “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Ordinance,” which mandates that only registered groups or political parties can hold public gatherings or protests and that prior approval from the government is required.
The ordinance also prohibits unregistered groups from organizing protests, essentially barring public demonstrations. Violators face up to seven years of imprisonment and fines.
The strike has been called by the Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition of businessmen, civil society groups, and lawyers. Despite the suspension of the ordinance by the Supreme Court of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on November 4, the JAAC has refused to call off the strike, demanding the complete withdrawal of the ordinance.
In Muzaffarabad, public transport was absent from the roads, although some government vehicles, a few rickshaws, and motorbikes were still seen operating. Almost all shops, markets, and bazaars were closed, and private schools were shut. However, government offices and educational institutions remained open.
Heavy police and security were deployed on the streets but people took to the streets, assembled, and demonstrated, raising slogans.
Small protests have been reported at three locations in the city, with protesters burning tires. There are also reports of wheel-jam strikes and shutdowns in other parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
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