A police officer was killed in Pakistani Kashmir during protests against price increases

ISLAMABAD – A protest over rising food, fuel and utility bills in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir has turned violent, leaving a police officer dead and dozens of people injured, officials said Sunday.

Traders in some towns in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir rolled down their shutters on Saturday as protesters burned tires to express their anger.

According to authorities, a police officer was killed in the town of Dadyal. Police have arrested several protesters across Kashmir, which is divided between Pakistan and India.

Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, the prime minister in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, said he was ready to consider protesters’ demands but urged them not to indulge in violence.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari called a meeting on Sunday to discuss how to calm the protests.

Pakistan narrowly avoided a default on its external debt last year when the International Monetary Fund and several friendly countries came to its aid with loans. Pakistan’s monthly inflation rate reached over 40% at one point, but authorities said it had fallen to 17% ahead of talks with the IMF on a new bailout package. Pakistan plans to receive at least $6 billion from the IMF if it reaches an agreement in the coming months.