Muzaffarabad (POJK), Aug 10 (NVI) Mass boycott by locals marked the third round of elections to the so-called Assembly of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), which is being dubbed as “sham exercise” conducted by Pakistan by “force”.
Voting was scheduled for 4 constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts but most of the polling stations wore a deserted look in response to the call by J&K Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) for boycott of these elections being held amidst massive two-month-old agitation against Pakistan.
Locals said while most of them did not come out to vote, the Pakistani forces and polling staff themselves cast votes to claim that balloting took place.
At some polling stations, physical fights were witnessed with some people trying to snatch ballot papers or capture the booths.
Pakistan imposed tough curbs in these areas, including shut down of internet.
Among the candidates in the fray today were the incumbent so-called Prime Minister of POJK Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.
These elections have already been declared as a “sham” exercise by JAAC, which is spearheading the ongoing mass agitation for the due rights of people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and against Pakistan’s unending interference in political and other matters.
JAAC leader Sardar Umar Nazir said yesterday that these elections are being conducted by “force” by Pakistan against the will of the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The first two rounds of elections to the 53-member Assembly were also held in a similar farcical and rigged manner.
Voting at 7 constituencies has been postponed indefinitely as these fall in the areas where massive protests are going on. These include Rawalakot, which has become the epicenter of the ongoing agitation because the Pakistani forces have committed the worst brutality here.
According to indications available from the first two rounds of polling, Pakistan Muslim League (N) of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has got the simple majority.
These elections are contentious and questioned mainly because of the 12 seats reserved for so-called ‘refugees of Jammu and Kashmir’ settled in various parts of Pakistan. These 12 seats are given, in all elections, to the party ruling in Islamabad.
JAAC’s main demand includes scrapping of these 12 seats, which are used by the Pakistani establishment to make or break governments in POJK. (NVI)
