New Delhi: India has strongly rejected the ongoing Legislative Assembly elections in Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK), calling the exercise a “cosmetic” attempt by Pakistan to legitimise its illegal occupation of the region while diverting attention from alleged human rights violations and growing public unrest.
Addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas currently under Pakistan’s control, are integral and inalienable parts of India.
Jaiswal said the elections do not alter India’s consistent position on the region and described the voting exercise as an effort to disguise Pakistan’s continued occupation. He also linked the ongoing protests across PoK to what he described as Pakistan’s economic exploitation, denial of fundamental rights, and administrative oppression of the local population.
The remarks came as the first phase of polling concluded in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. According to preliminary results, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) secured nine of the 13 seats contested in the opening phase, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won the remaining four seats. Both parties are coalition partners in Pakistan’s federal government.
The elections for 45 directly elected seats in the assembly are being conducted in three phases between July 27 and August 10. The assembly also includes eight reserved seats for women, technocrats, and religious representatives.
The first phase of polling was overshadowed by allegations of large scale electoral irregularities. Senior PPP leaders claimed that results in several constituencies had been manipulated and demanded an investigation before the remaining results are officially declared. They alleged that seats won by their candidates had been unfairly awarded to the PML N.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser Rana Sanaullah rejected the allegations, maintaining that the elections were largely peaceful and fair, while acknowledging that violence was reported in one constituency. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf chose to boycott the elections.
