Islamabad: The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter has accused the BJP-led Indian government of conducting sham elections in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) to deceive the international community about the region’s status.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a news conference in Islamabad, APHC-AJK leaders articulated their concerns about the ongoing efforts by the Indian government to misrepresent the situation in IIOJK. They highlighted the global recognition of Kashmir as a disputed territory that remains unresolved and subject to United Nations’ deliberations for a final settlement.

The leaders elaborated on the actions taken by the Modi government since August 5, 2019, when it revoked the special status of Kashmir, including imposing a military siege and incarcerating a large number of Kashmiri youths. They accused the Indian government of attempting to alter the demographic composition of the Muslim-majority territory by issuing domiciles to non-state residents.

The APHC-AJK criticized changes in the local education system to align with Hindu-centric curricula, emphasizing the preference for Hindi over Urdu. The leaders condemned the Indian government’s strategies as an attempt to erase Kashmiri identity and heritage.

Furthermore, they clarified their stance regarding participation in the Indian elections, asserting that those cooperating with the Indian electoral process do not represent Hurriyat’s interests or strategies. The leaders also touched upon the release of political figures like Engineer Rashid for opportunistic gains by India, illustrating it as part of a broader manipulative tactic by the Indian administration.

The press conference was attended by prominent figures including Muhammad Farooq Rahmani, Mahmood Ahmed Saghar, and others, who collectively voiced their concerns and called for the international community to recognize and act against the injustices occurring in IIOJK.