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Pakistani security forces used assault weapons and sniper fire against protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to address governance issues.
Pakistani security forces have launched a violent crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following a week of simmering discontent over inflation and opaque governance. The crackdown resulted in dozens of deaths and many more injuries as security forces utilized assault weapons and sniper fire against crowds gathered in main squares. Protesters in cities such as Rawalakot and Muagingarabad and Muzaffarabad demonstrated against the three-phase election currently underway in the region. The unrest stems from a lack of accountability and rising inflation, which has fueled public frustration with the current governance structure. Security forces moved to disperse the crowds to restore order during the election cycle.