The ongoing agitation regarding assembly elections and reserved seats in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) has taken a violent form. Tension has increased in the entire area after claims of 20 deaths in clashes between protesters and security forces. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has given a very strict statement regarding the agitators. While talking to journalists, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif compared the people protesting in PoK with India. Earlier, India had described the elections being held in PoK as an attempt to hide Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said, “There will be no talks with the protesters. I put them in the category of India. I consider them enemies of Pakistan just like India.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s advisor Rana Sanaullah claimed that representatives of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) met him and made 38 demands. Sanaullah alleged that the protesters want to capture Muzaffarabad and Mirpur by force and are currently engaged in “India-like attacks”.
Claim of 20 deaths, different allegations from both sides
JAAC claimed on Wednesday that at least 20 of its workers have been killed and several others injured in clashes with law and order forces since Monday. According to JAAC core committee member Abid Shaheen, about a dozen workers died and more than 20 were injured during the march taken out from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad on Monday. Imtiaz Aslam, another committee member, said those killed included Usman Nazir, younger brother of JAAC founding member Omar Nazir. At the same time, it is being claimed that 37 people have died in the protest so far.
PoK police rejected JAAC’s allegation
JAAC says its workers were unarmed and had only sticks. On the other hand, PoK police chief Captain (retd) Liaquat Ali Malik has rejected this claim. They allege that the protesters had modern weapons and they fired on the security forces first. Law and order agencies have also expressed doubt on the death figures. These claims could not be independently verified. At the same time, in this entire movement that started in June, till Monday’s violence, 40 people had died, which included 34 protesters and 6 police and paramilitary force personnel.
What is the controversy over elections and 12 disputed seats?
JAAC has been protesting since last month regarding the 12 disputed seats of the so-called regional assembly of PoK. The organization alleges that the ruling establishment uses these seats to elect a Prime Minister of its choice. In the first phase of the so-called elections being held in PoK, voting was held on 13 assembly seats on Monday, in which Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 9 seats. The second and third phase of voting for the remaining 32 seats is to be held on August 2 and 10.
Allegations of violence and rigging in elections
The first phase of elections was held amid violence and allegations of rigging. PML-N’s ally at the center Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has also alleged widespread rigging. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party PTI has boycotted the elections. The so-called assembly of PoK has a total of 53 seats, of which 45 are directly elected and 8 seats are reserved for women, technical experts and religious leaders. Authorities have suspended internet services across the region and there are also reports of media restrictions on coverage of JAAC protests in Pakistan.
What did India say?
On Tuesday, India had described the elections being held in PoK as an attempt to hide Pakistan’s illegal occupation. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said, “India’s stand is clear and well-known. The entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas under illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan, are integral and inalienable parts of India.” He had said that the ongoing widespread demonstrations in PoK are a direct result of Pakistan’s economic exploitation, depriving people of their fundamental rights and administrative repression.
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