The fire of the protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) has spread to other parts of Pakistan with hundreds of people taking to the streets in Karachi, and the police storming the National Press Club in Islamabad, where lawyers were holding a peaceful agitation. This came after at least 12 people were killed in police firing in POK, which is witnessing one of its biggest protests in 38 years.

Police stormed the National Press Club in Islamabad and assaulted journalists and protesters who were agitating against the atrocities in POK.

Awami Action Committee (AAC) leader Shaukat Nawaz Mir, accusing Pakistan’s government and army of oppressing locals and stifling their voices, said, “This government is a dayan. It’s on a witch hunt, and killing its own people.”

A group of lawyers aligned to the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee, which is leading the protests in POK, was holding a peaceful agitation outside the Press Club. A police team attacked the protesting lawyers, who fled inside, which made the cops storm the Press Club.

The police then resorted to lathi-charge inside the press club, not even sparing the journalists. Videos showed the police destroying equipment inside the Press Club, and dragging some protesters outside.

The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) also led protests in Karachi, with hundreds taking to the streets to demand action and accountability from the Pakistani government amid rising political tensions in POK, according to Arab News.

Protesters called for the abolition of 12 Assembly seats and an end to perks and privileges for politicians, according to the report.

The protests in Islamabad and Karachi came even as at least 12 civilians were killed as security forces opened fire on protesters in POK.

The protests, which started over the government’s failure to meet 38 key demands, have snowballed into a broader agitation against excesses by the military, bringing the region to a standstill.

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