MEA Rejects PoK Elections, Cites Killings And Repression

MEA Rejects PoK Polls As A Sham

At the biweekly media briefing in New Delhi, Jaiswal rejected the poll exercise as an effort to create a false show of legitimacy. He said that the reality on ground is a stark contradiction of the impression that Islamabad is trying to build.

He said, "This so-called local election in POK is a complete farce. The real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide reality.”

India Highlights Police Crackdown And Civilian Deaths

The government stated that a number of people have been killed since June amid the security crackdown in the region. Jaiswal added that the use of force, suspension of internet access and intimidation tactics reflected the reality behind the electoral facade and asked the international community to not just look at Pakistan's public narrative on democracy and human rights in the region, but at the "reality on the ground".

He said, "Since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown. The Pakistani Establishment has answered public discontent with bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression, and now seeks to manufacture legitimacy through a hollow electoral exercise.” 

Amnesty International Seeks Probe Into Rights Violations

This crackdown also attracted international attention and Amnesty International called for an independent and fair inquiry into the use of force against demonstrators. Acting Director of Amnesty South Asia Isabelle Lassee added that the reports bear out the pattern of unlawful and excessive use of force against protesters by Pakistan forces.

The elections in PoK were held amid continuing protests across several areas. People organized protests even during the polling time. Demonstrations also occurred in Pakistani cities with substantial Kashmiri populations, especially Karachi, where they doubted the authenticity of the vote and demanded democratic rights and political reforms.

The police reportedly arrested several protestors including student leaders at the time of demonstrations, deepening the concerns over the election process and increasing the criticism from civil society organizations and opposition parties alike.