Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is witnessing a new wave of unrest as student-led protests erupt across the region, drawing parallels with the youth uprisings that transformed Nepal and Bangladesh. Despite Islamabad’s efforts to suppress dissent, reports of large-scale atrocities and arrests are surfacing, intensifying anger against the Shehbaz Sharif government and Pakistan’s military establishment.

According to intelligence sources, the current agitation—unlike earlier protests driven by political activists—is being spearheaded by students from the University of Azad Kashmir. The unrest began over alleged discrepancies in intermediate exam results and steep tuition fee hikes. The government’s immediate response was to ban student unions and political activities on campus, triggering outrage.

Protesters have raised anti-Pakistan slogans, accusing authorities of corruption, mismanagement, and human rights violations. Officials fear the movement could spread beyond PoK into other volatile provinces such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where discontent is already simmering. The Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) has pledged support to the students, potentially broadening the protest base.

Experts warn that Pakistan’s handling of the situation bears striking resemblance to the youth movements that toppled regimes in Nepal and Bangladesh. In both cases, student-led demonstrations against corruption, unemployment, and poor governance escalated after government crackdowns. Analysts believe Pakistan risks a similar outcome if repression continues.

The students’ key grievances include the flawed e-marking system that allegedly affected over 10,000 exam results, along with rising educational costs and a deteriorating academic environment. Arbitrary arrests and reports of abuse have further inflamed public sentiment.

Observers note that the unrest comes at a time when Pakistan faces multiple crises—from political instability surrounding Imran Khan’s supporters to persistent insurgencies in restive provinces. “The suppression of youth voices and human rights violations in PoK could ignite nationwide protests,” an intelligence official said.

Long plagued by corruption and underdevelopment, PoK’s frustrations are reaching a breaking point. Experts caution that the Sharif government’s heavy-handed approach could backfire, transforming localized student anger into a mass movement challenging Islamabad’s authority.

As one analyst put it, “This isn’t just about exams anymore. It’s about decades of neglect, and Pakistan’s youth have found their voice.”