POK on boil again as Gen Z protests turn violent against Shehbaz Sharif government

Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) is once again witnessing widespread unrest as thousands of young students have taken to the streets, protesting against rising fees and alleged irregularities in the new e-marking evaluation system. What began as a peaceful demonstration in Muzaffarabad’s universities has now evolved into a full-blown agitation against the Shehbaz Sharif-led government.

The protests, largely driven by Gen Z students, turned violent after an unidentified gunman reportedly opened fire on demonstrators, injuring one person. Videos circulating online show scenes of chaos as protesters burned tyres and chanted anti-government slogans, drawing parallels with youth-led uprisings seen recently in Nepal and Bangladesh. Police presence has been intensified, though tensions continue to rise.

Students have accused authorities of botching the digital evaluation process that led to inaccurate marks and results delayed by six months. They are demanding a rollback of high rechecking fees and an overhaul of the education system. The grievances have since expanded to include issues of poor infrastructure, unpaid salaries of staff, and the region’s worsening living conditions.

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which led violent demonstrations in October over inflation and tax relief, has now extended its support to the student movement. Observers warn that the latest protests mark a significant shift in POK’s unrest — from economic and political grievances to a generational revolt, with young Pakistanis openly defying the Sharif government and the powerful military establishment.