The second phase of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s legislative polls ended amid protests, violence and rigging allegations. The troubled vote deepened public distrust and renewed scrutiny of Pakistan’s grip over the region.
The second phase of the so-called legislative elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir ended on Sunday amid allegations of rigging, low turnout and violence. Polling was held for nine seats in Muzaffarabad and 12 refugee seats, while protests and heavy security kept several areas tense.
India has maintained that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas “currently under Pakistan’s illegal and forcible occupation, are integral and inalienable parts of India”. On July 28, New Delhi described the polls as an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and hide its “grave” human rights violations in the region.
Polling personnel were taken to voting stations early on Sunday in military-guarded convoys, with each vehicle accompanied by security personnel. Along with local police, a large number of officers from Punjab and Sindh were deployed for election duty. Even with the security presence, protesters linked to the banned Joint Awami Action Committee, or JAAC, kept up road blockades in several neighbourhoods and disrupted voting in protest against the political situation.
Roads remained blocked in densely populated localities including Gujra, Tariqabad, Upper Plate, Centre Plate, Lower Plate, Saman Bandi and Chehla Bandi. Protesters also criticised the media for what they called inadequate coverage of their grievances. The JAAC, a grouping of activist organisations, has been protesting for nearly two months over 12 contentious assembly seats. It alleges that the establishment manipulates these seats to install a prime minister of its choice. According to the JAAC, 37 people were killed in clashes with security personnel during the first phase of polling a week ago.
Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said the region’s president, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who is also a PPP candidate, was attacked and a party worker was shot dead in an alleged targeted attack. In a statement, Bhutto-Zardari blamed Pakistan’s ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for the attacks and alleged rigging by the party, saying that if it wins, “it will erode the people’s trust in the state.” PPP leader and former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said the party had submitted proof of rigging, but claimed the election commission was in “no mood to take stock of such complaints”. He said no one would accept the results if transparency was not ensured.
Polling in the 45-seat assembly is being held in three phases, mainly because of the JAAC protests across the region. In the first phase on July 27, voting was held for 13 seats in Mirpur division, where the PML-N won nine seats and the PPP four. The third phase, covering nine seats in Poonch division, is scheduled for August 10. Separately, Punjab police detained dozens of protesters, including women, in Lahore as they demonstrated in solidarity with people in PoK raising their voices for their rights.
Several residents also expressed anger with mainstream political parties. “They are not true representatives of the public. Even if they enter the assembly with a handful of votes, at least our conscience will be clear that we did not support this government,” said Omar Bokhari, a resident of Muzaffarabad, adding that politicians often switch parties while ignoring public issues. “If we don’t vote, at least we will know we were not part of what we consider an unjust system,” he said. First-time voter Hasan Raza said the unrest had left him disillusioned. “At this point, I don’t see any politician worthy of my vote. None of them is speaking about the issues people are facing,” he said.
The violence was also condemned by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl chief Maulan Fazlur Rehman, who said in a video message that the government had chosen the path of violence and opened fire on unarmed civilians. “According to the information available to me, the number of Kashmiris killed in violence (since early June) has reached 80,” he said. Rehman appealed to the JAAC for more time and urged all sides to pursue a peaceful solution, as the second phase closed with protests, allegations of manipulation and public anger still unresolved.
With PTI Inputs
