PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan. PHOTO: TWITTER
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Wednesday rejected the recent elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), calling the electoral process “a fraud”, and condemned the violence in the region, which it said sent a wrong message internationally and hurt the Kashmir cause.
Addressing a press conference along with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan today, former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Qayyum Niazi said that Kashmiris were subjected to unprecedented oppression and brutality.
“Kashmiris are being crushed in a manner for which there is no precedent. These are the same Kashmiris who passed the resolution in favor of accession to Pakistan on July 19, 1947, even before Pakistan came into being,” he said. He said the protesters had made every effort to reach an agreement, but when they realized their demands were no longer being heard, they announced a protest on June 9.
“They are peaceful people and remain peaceful even today. Tell me, was a member of our forces killed by gunfire or shot with a baton there? These people are taking bullets, yet they continue to stand peacefully,” he said.
Niazi questioned the decision to hold the elections in three phases, saying that AJK had a population of only 3.5-4 million.
“Pakistan has a population of 250 million and holds elections in a single phase. What is the need for three phases here? What kind of design is being implemented in Kashmir?” he asked.
Meanwhile, Gohar criticized the recent election process, claiming that the July 27 election was “a fraud” on the people of the region.
“The election held on the 27th was witnessed by all of you. In the name of election, it was rigged. Everyone will now have to accept that using bullets and batons, suppressing the people, silencing them and stopping them from protesting is not the solution to the problems. Listening to the people is democracy,” he said.
Condemning the recent situation in AJK, Gohar also criticized Pakistan Peoples Party and PML-N for politicizing the issue.
“We are openly stating that dead bodies were lying there, people were covered in blood and political parties were playing politics over it. One congratulated the other while the other complained that the election had been rigged against it,” he said, adding that the two parties had remained in power under the existing system for the past 40 years and had lost in their respective provinces. He said the low turnout in the election itself reflected the public’s rejection of both parties.
“Such low voter turnout reflects a vote of no confidence in the whole system and in these two parties. It is a referendum against them,” Gohar said.
Describing the prevailing politics as driven by vested interests, he said it was hurting the Kashmir cause and urged all stakeholders to act with wisdom.
