Gunfire erupts at peace rally, leaving one dead and dozens injured

In Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a tragic incident unfolded during a peace rally on Monday, leading to the loss of at least one life and injuring over two dozen people. Local police reported that the gunfire broke out while hundreds of demonstrators marched along a main road in Muzaffarabad, the regional capital. Authorities have indicated that some of the injured are in critical condition at local hospitals. Initial investigations suggest that violence was instigated by armed members of the Awami Action Committee, a civil rights group that organized the rally and called for a strike to demand essential services such as subsidized food and electricity. In contrast, official sources maintain that most residents disregarded the strike call and that peaceful demonstrations occurred elsewhere in the region. The Awami Action Committee claimed that the gunfire originated from the peace rally attendees, an assertion that escalated tensions further. Their leader, Shaukat Nawaz, voiced his accusations during a speech to the rally's participants, arguing that the majority of shops were closed in solidarity with their cause and that the protest would persist until their demands were met. The group's aims include ending special allowances for government officials and ensuring that the region receives electricity and wheat at reduced prices compared to the rest of Pakistan. Last year, the group held similar protests marked by violence, resulting in four deaths and numerous injuries. In response to the unrest, authorities have partially suspended mobile phone and internet services in several parts of the region as a security measure. The violence came just a day after Mushtaq Minhas, a senior official from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had requested the group to postpone their protests until after his return from the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Despite the Prime Minister's appeal for a delay, the alliance continued with their plans, raising questions about their willingness to negotiate. The governmental stance is that after already offering flour and electricity subsidies, further demands seem unreasonable and politically motivated. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, involved in negotiations with the activists, claimed that nearly 95% of the demands had been accepted by the government. Nevertheless, he criticized those who resorted to violence during the rally, suggesting that the response was disproportionate to the consultations and concessions made by authorities. As tensions remain high in the region, the potential for further violence looms over the continuing protests, as local sentiments remain divided between compliance with government directives and the pressing demands of civil rights activists.