Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal)_President Asif Ali Zardari has categorically rejected the elections for the Legislative Assembly of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), emphasizing that such polls cannot replace the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
In a meeting with a delegation of migrants from IIOJK residing in Pakistan since 1989, President Zardari condemned the elections as part of India’s strategy to consolidate its illegal occupation. The delegation was led by Uzair Ahmed Ghazali and included representatives from various refugee organizations.
President Zardari asserted that the international community must recognize the illegitimacy of these elections and hold the Modi government accountable for ongoing human rights violations in the occupied territory. He urged the need for concrete steps toward conducting a plebiscite in line with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The president emphasized that Pakistan greatly values the sacrifices made by the Kashmiri people for their rights and will continue to stand in solidarity with them. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to providing moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people until the realization of their right to self-determination.
The delegation apprised the president about the atrocities being committed by the Modi regime in IIOJK, including the imprisonment of Kashmiri leadership and human rights abuses. They also highlighted issues faced by refugees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), such as inadequate subsistence allowances and lack of social services.
President Zardari assured the delegation that Pakistan is committed to the socio-economic uplift of refugees and resolving their issues. He directed the AJK Government to enhance subsistence allowances and provide other relief measures to the Kashmiri refugees. Additionally, he announced that Pakistan’s social safety net would be extended to include 8,000 migrant families under the Benazir Income Support Programme.
The delegation thanked the president for Pakistan’s continued moral, political, and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people. They also commended the efforts and role of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who strongly advocated for the cause of the people of IIOJK during his tenure as Foreign Minister of Pakistan.
President Zardari’s rejection of the IIOJK elections echoes the sentiments of various international organizations and human rights groups, which have expressed concerns over the legitimacy and fairness of the polls. The international community is urged to take notice of the ongoing human rights violations in IIOJK and support the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.
The meeting between President Zardari and the delegation of migrants from IIOJK underscores Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the Kashmir cause and its resolve to stand with the Kashmiri people in their struggle for freedom and self-determination.
