Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday voiced a strong rejection of the recent elections for the Legislative Assembly in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), labeling them an inadequate substitute for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
According to Pakistan Peoples Party, the President articulated these views during a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr with a delegation of migrants from IIOJK, led by Mr Uzair Ahmed Ghazali. President Zardari emphasized that the elections do not reflect the true will of the Kashmiri people and called on the international community to hold the Indian government accountable for its continued human rights abuses in the region.
During the discussions, President Zardari condemned the elections as a facet of India’s strategy to reinforce its unlawful hold over the territory, stressing that such actions neither legitimize the occupation nor quell the Kashmiri struggle for autonomy. He reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri cause, pledging ongoing moral, political, and diplomatic backing until their self-determination is realized.
The delegation briefed President Zardari on the severe conditions and human rights violations faced by the Kashmiri people under the Modi administration, including the detainment of Kashmiri leaders aimed at muffling their voices. They also conveyed concerns about the welfare of Kashmiri refugees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
In response, President Zardari assured that the grievances of the Kashmiri refugees would be addressed, with plans to enhance their subsistence allowances and incorporate 8000 migrant families into Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme to bolster social security.
The meeting underscored Pakistan’s commitment to both the socio-economic betterment of Kashmiri refugees and the broader political support for the Kashmiri struggle on international platforms.