Srinagar: In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the upcoming elections are being dismissed as a superficial exercise by Kashmiris who argue that the process is overshadowed by military coercion and lacks legitimate representation of the local population’s desires.

According to Kashmir Media Service, civil society activists and experts in Srinagar express that with approximately one million military personnel deployed in the region and a ban on Hurriyat organizations, the elections are widely perceived as illegitimate. They highlight the incarceration of key Hurriyat leaders like Masarrat Aalam Butt, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Muhammad Yasin Malik, and Syeda Aasiya Andrabi in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail, and the intermittent house detention of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, as critical factors undermining the credibility of the elections.

Activists question the authenticity of the electoral process and its ability to reflect the true aspirations of Kashmiri people. They assert that the primary goal of these elections is to validate India’s controversial actions since August 2019 and to consolidate its hold over the territory. Candidates participating in these elections are seen as promoting Indian nationalist and occupation interests rather than representing Kashmiri aspirations.

In contrast, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference is recognized as a true representative of the Kashmiri populace, steadfastly advocating for a resolution to the Kashmir dispute in accordance with United Nations resolutions. Despite attempts to suppress their voices through detention, Kashmiri leadership and people remain committed to their quest for self-determination, advocating for a UN-sanctioned plebiscite over participation in what they term as “election dramas.”