REPORTER: RAJAT VOHRA

New Delhi, July 10: Pakistan is reportedly preparing for one of its largest internal security deployments in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) ahead of the July 15 “Muzaffarabad Chalo” march, with the total strength of paramilitary personnel expected to exceed 17,500.

According to sources, the PoJK administration has requested Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior to deploy an additional 4,000 Frontier Corps (FC) personnel and seven wings of Pakistan Rangers, estimated at around 5,500 personnel, to reinforce security across the region.

The fresh deployment would be in addition to the over 8,000 Pakistan Rangers who have reportedly been stationed in PoJK since June 4 amid escalating unrest.

Massive Security Build-Up

The unprecedented deployment comes as authorities brace for a large-scale protest march called by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and other groups, which have announced plans to march towards Muzaffarabad on July 15.

Officials are reportedly expecting thousands of demonstrators to participate in the agitation over political representation, governance, electricity tariffs and other long-standing grievances.

Rising Tensions

Sources claim that 61 people have been killed in firing incidents over the past month amid growing unrest in the region. However, these figures could not be independently verified.

Recent weeks have witnessed repeated protests, clashes between demonstrators and security forces, and reports of injuries and detentions in several parts of PoJK.

Concerns Over Heavy Militarisation

The scale of the proposed deployment suggests that Pakistani authorities are preparing to convert key parts of PoJK into a heavily fortified security zone ahead of the planned march.

Security personnel are expected to be deployed around government buildings, major roads, entry points into Muzaffarabad and other sensitive locations to prevent protesters from reaching the capital.

Background

The current wave of protests is being led primarily by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has been demanding political reforms, lower electricity tariffs, economic relief and changes to the region’s governance structure.

The organisation has warned of intensified protests if its demands remain unmet, making the July 15 march one of the most significant demonstrations witnessed in PoJK in recent years.