Pakistan blocks Al Jazeera website over coverage of PoK protests

NL Webdesk

Pakistan has reportedly blocked access to several news websites following their coverage of the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

According to reports, Qatar-based Al Jazeera was restricted in parts of Pakistan due to its coverage of the widespread unrest in the PoK region.

Several users took to social media to report that they were unable to access Al Jazeera’s English website.

The PoK has been witnessing massive protests since last month over inflated living costs, alleged administrative apathy and political discrimination and atrocities against minorities.

The protests have continued amid so-called elections taking place in PoK, which India has rejected.

Despite the extensive security arrangements, protesters associated with the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) maintained road blockades across several neighbourhoods and prevented voting in protest against the prevailing political situation.

The JAAC is a collective of activist groups staging demonstrations for nearly two months over 12 contentious seats of the legislative assembly. It alleges that the establishment manoeuvres these seats to install a prime minister of its choosing. According to the JAAC, 37 people were killed in clashes with security personnel in the first phase of polls a week ago.