RAWALAKOT
Massive protests have erupted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Poonch district against heavenly hiked electricity bills and massively imposed taxes by the AJK government. Violent clashes between AJK police and the protestors have been observed during past four days, as many have been injured and booked by the AJK police as per different charges. Footages and videos showed police firing tear gas at agitators and men setting a police van on fire in Rawalakot’s Thorar area Wednesday night. Sources said rallies and demonstrations have been observed to protest against massive taxes and hiked electricity bills imposed by the state government.
However, AJK Prime Minister Tanvir Ilyas Khan’s spokesperson Irfan Ashraf said Wednesday that the government was taking immediate steps to provide relief to the masses. “AJK PM’s foremost priority is safeguarding public’s interest. Sardar Tanvir Ilyas is taking every possible step to provide relief to bewildered masses,” Ashraf said in a statement.
It is pertinent to mention here that despite producing up to 2800 Mega Watts of electricity and requiring only 400 Mega Watts to become load-shedding free zone, Azad Jammu and Kashmir has been suffering from prolonged electricity load shedding. Moreover, massive taxes have also been imposed in terms of General Sales Tax (GST) and others.
