Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Protests against flour price turn violent in Pakistan, over 100 casualties recorded

Reports noted that paramilitary troops sent to end the unrest fired bullets and tear gas at protesters.

• May 14, 2024
Pakistan flag
Pakistan flag [Credit: The Econimic Times]

Over 100 people wounded as violence marred protests against the rising prices of flour and electricity in Pakistan.

Thousands of residents have been on the street over the increase as the unrest entered a fifth day on Tuesday.

The detention of protest leaders had further fuelled the unrest.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered subsidies worth 23 billion rupees ($83m; £65m) on Monday to assuage the protestors but his request failed to quell the unrest.

The protests have been intensifying since the weekend, leaving three people dead, prompting authorities to cut mobile services.

Also, schools, public transportation and businesses have been suspended. Authorities said one of the three who died was a police officer.

They sent paramilitary troops known as rangers into the regional capital, Muzaffarabad to dispatch the agitators.

Reports stated that paramilitary troops sent to quench the unrest fired bullets and lobbed tear gas at protesters.

Footage of the protests shows both sides hitting one another with rods.

“The rangers should not have shot at the protesters. We were just asking for our rights and got bullet shots in return,” Muhammad Qasim, one of the protesters, told AFP on Tuesday.

The Joint Awami Action Committee, an activist group that initiated the protests, declared Tuesday a “Black Day” to honour those who died.

Pakistani-administered Kashmir is a semi-autonomous region with its own regional government.

Mr Kashmir has been a source of conflict between India and Pakistan for more than 70 years.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq

States

Gunmen invade Aboki village in Kwara, five people killed

The armed men “kidnapped a young man, Alhaji Tukur, in my area who was their target”, a source told The Gazette.

Governor Abba Yusuf

Education

Gov Yusuf hails Tinubu govt for suspending NECO exam fee hike

Governor Abba Yusuf has commended the federal government for suspending the increase in the National Examinations Council examination fees.

AliExpress

Economy

China decries EU’s fine on AliExpress

China’s Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday expressed strong dissatisfaction and serious concern over the European Commission’s decision to fine AliExpress €550 million.

Social Democratic Party (SDP)

Abuja

SDP seeks stay of judgment on leadership dispute

The application was brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Court of Appeal Act, Order 4 Rule 6(2) of the Court of Appeal Rules, 2021, and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

Chemical spill on Kaduna-Abuja road

Abuja

NESREA begins probe of chemical spill on Kaduna-Abuja Expressway

NESREA has begun investigating a suspected chemical spill on the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway after a truck crash left a white foamy substance at the scene.

Timipre Sylva

Politics

Coup: Trial of five men charged with concealing Timipre Sylva’s whereabouts adjourned

Court adjourned the trial of five men accused of failure to disclose the whereabouts of former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa until October 5.