Rawalkot, Residents of Rawalkot have intensified their protests by burning electricity bills, signaling a hard stance against what they describe as state oppression and unfair taxation. The protestors have announced plans for monthly rallies until all taxes are abolished, emphasizing their fight is for rights usurped by the Muzaffarabad government, not against any Pakistani institution or political ideology in Kashmir.
According to University of Poonch Rawalakot, the demonstrators are advocating for Azad Kashmir to be declared a “free load shedding zone,” and for the government to utilize local resources to provide cost-effective electricity and essentials such as flour. The movement has attracted support from various community leaders and activists, including Nap Azhar Kashar and Ejaz Hanif, who have praised the initiative to burn bills as a direct challenge to governmental policy.
During the protests, leaders expressed that their non-violent struggle could persist indefinitely to ensure that their demands for basic utilities and equitable tax policies are met. They emphasized the peaceful nature of their actions despite the confrontations with authorities and misinformation campaigns aimed at discrediting their efforts.
The protests in Rawalkot follow a series of similar actions across the region, with the movement gaining momentum after public bill burnings initially took place last August. Despite facing opposition from certain political factions and attempts by the government to halt these protests, the organizers vow to continue their demonstrations to resist unfair economic burdens imposed on the poor by affluent sectors.