IIOJK Elections
ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, President Asif Ali Zardari firmly rejected the recent elections held for the legislative assembly of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), stating that these polls do not represent the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
The elections, taking place for the first time in a decade, follow years of political upheaval and constitutional changes in the region.
Since 2019, the status of IIOJK has been dramatically altered when the far-right Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked the region’s special semi-autonomous status.
Under this status, IIOJK had its own powers to control internal matters, and only descendants of residents from 1934 could vote or own property. The Modi government’s decision to remove this autonomy was seen as part of a broader strategy to further consolidate India’s control over the Muslim-majority region.
The current provincial elections were scheduled after the Indian Supreme Court upheld the Modi government’s revocation of IIOJK’s special status last year, setting a deadline of September 30, 2024, for the completion of local elections. However, these elections have sparked widespread criticism from Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership.
During a meeting with a delegation of migrants from IIOJK, who have been living in Pakistan since 1989, President Zardari underscored that these elections are unacceptable to the people of Kashmir.
The delegation was led by Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, and the meeting was held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. Zardari reiterated that the international community must hold the Modi government accountable for its continued human rights violations in the occupied territory.
Zardari emphasized that the ongoing elections are merely a facade to legitimize India’s illegal occupation of the region. He highlighted that such measures could never replace the plebiscite promised to the Kashmiri people under relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
The president also expressed concern over India’s attempts to alter the demographic composition of IIOJK by reducing the Kashmiri Muslim majority to a minority. He accused India of systematically disempowering the native Kashmiri population.
“Pakistan greatly values the sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination,” President Zardari affirmed, reiterating Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to provide moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri struggle.
The delegation informed President Zardari of the atrocities being committed by the Modi regime, including the imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders to silence opposition.
They also brought to his attention the challenges faced by refugees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), seeking Pakistan’s assistance in addressing their concerns.
In closing, Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s stance on standing in solidarity with the Kashmiri people and called for the international community to act against India’s continued human rights violations in the region.
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