The recent elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoK) have been marred by significant unrest. Reports indicate widespread violence, allegations of electoral fraud, and instances of enforced disappearances. These issues have raised serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in the region.
Residents of Muzaffarabad said fresh violence ahead of polling had raised concerns that the unrest would dominate the election process. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the entire Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas under Pakistan’s control are an integral part of India. He said the elections were an attempt by Pakistan to ‘camouflage its illegal occupation’ and conceal alleged human rights violations in the region. The ongoing mass protest in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is the direct consequence of its economic exploitation, its denial of fundamental rights to the people and its administrative oppression,” Jaiswal had said earlier this week.
Local reports described burnt-out vehicles, roads blocked with rocks and a strong presence of police, paramilitary personnel and army troops in several areas after clashes between demonstrators and security forces. JAAC has boycotted the elections, arguing that the reserved refugee seats allow Pakistan’s mainstream political parties to influence government formation in the region. “The current cosmetic electoral exercise is nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and hide its grave human rights violations in the region.