President Zardari rejects IIOJK elections, affirms Kashmiris' right to self-determination

He describes them as part of India’s broader strategy to consolidate its illegal occupation of the region

ISLAMABAD:

President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday firmly rejected the elections for the Legislative Assembly of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), asserting that these polls do not substitute for the Kashmiri people's right to self-determination.

During a meeting with a delegation of IIOJK migrants residing in Pakistan since 1989, led by Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, he emphasised that such elections are unacceptable to the people of Kashmir. 

The president called on the international community to hold the Narendra Modi government accountable for ongoing human rights violations in the occupied territory.

He underscored the need for concrete steps toward conducting a plebiscite in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. 

He condemned the Legislative Assembly elections in IIOJK, describing them as part of India’s broader strategy to consolidate its illegal occupation of the region. He asserted that these measures could neither legitimise India’s occupation nor suppress the Kashmiri people’s freedom struggle.

President Zardari highlighted concerns over India’s attempts to alter the demographic structure of IIOJK, warning that these efforts aim to marginalise Kashmiri Muslims and transform them into a disempowered community in their own land. 

He reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to support the Kashmiri people's rights and their struggle for self-determination.

The delegation informed the president about the atrocities being committed by the Modi regime in IIOJK, noting that the entire Kashmiri leadership has been imprisoned to silence the voices of the Kashmiri people. They also raised concerns regarding the issues faced by refugees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The president further stressed the need to protest against the illegal actions and atrocities perpetrated by Indian occupation forces in IIOJK. He committed to addressing the socio-economic uplift of refugees and resolving their issues. 

Additionally, he assured the delegation that the AJK government would be urged to enhance subsistence allowances and provide further relief measures for Kashmiri refugees. He also announced that Pakistan’s social safety net would be extended to include 8,000 migrant families under the Benazir Income Support Programme.

The delegation expressed gratitude to the President for Pakistan’s continued moral, political, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people.