PTI demands probe into AJK killings

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 was sending the wrong message internationally and harming the Kashmir cause.

Addressing a news conference alongside PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan today, former AJK prime minister Sardar Qayyum Niazi said Kashmiris were being 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 favour of accession to Pakistan on July 19, 1947, even before Pakistan came into existence," he said. He said the protesters had made every effort to reach an agreement, but when they realised that their demands were no longer being heard, they announced a protest for June 9.

"They are peaceful people and remain peaceful even today. Tell me, was any member of our forces killed by gunfire or struck with a baton there? These people are taking bullets, yet they continue to stand peacefully," he said.

Questioning the decision to hold the elections in three phases, Niazi said 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 criticised the recent electoral process and alleged that the July 27 elections were "a fraud" on the people of the region.

"The elections held on the 27th were witnessed by all of you. In the name of elections, it was a fraud. 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 problems. Listening to the people is democracy," he said.

Condemning the recent situation in AJK, Gohar also criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party and the PML-N for politicising the issue.

"We openly state that there were dead bodies lying there, people were covered in blood, and political parties played politics over it. One congratulated the other, while the other complained that the elections 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 voter turnout in the election itself reflected the people's rejection of both parties.

"Such a low turnout reflects a vote of no confidence in the entire system and in these two parties. It is a referendum against them," Gohar said.

Describing the prevailing politics as being driven by personal interests, he said it was damaging the Kashmir cause and urged all stakeholders to act with wisdom.