Compiled by CHOW HOW BAN, SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI and R. ARAVINTHAN
RALLIES and marches have erupted across the Pakistan-administered region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir over high inflation, skyrocketing electricity rates and rising unemployment, Malaysia Nanban reported.
In response to the growing unrest, authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), the grassroots civil society coalition organising the events.
Despite the ban, protesters pushed forward with the demonstration, prompting the deployment of heavy security forces who initially used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
The confrontation escalated tragically when Pakistani security forces reportedly opened fire on the unarmed protesters with AK-47 rifles, killing more than 30 people – including local JAAC activist Sasab – and injuring about 200 others.
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
