Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has openly rejected the legitimacy of the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), citing severe human rights concerns and the denial of the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination. In a meeting with a delegation of IIOJK migrants, President Zardari emphasized that such elections are not acceptable and called for international action against the Modi government for its policies in the region.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, during discussions with the delegation led by Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, comprising migrants residing in Pakistan since 1989, President Zardari denounced the elections as an attempt by India to further consolidate its control over the disputed territory. He argued that these measures would not legitimize India’s occupation nor quell the ongoing freedom struggle of the Kashmiri populace.
President Zardari highlighted the need for a plebiscite in IIOJK, conforming to the United Nations Security Council Resolutions, as the only legitimate path to determining the will of the Kashmiri people. He condemned the Modi government’s efforts to change the demographic makeup of the region, which he claimed aimed at transforming Kashmiri Muslims into a minority and a disempowered group in their own land.
The delegation briefed President Zardari on the dire situation in IIOJK, including the incarceration of Kashmiri leadership intended to silence the community’s voice. They discussed the plight of refugees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the broader impacts of ongoing atrocities by Indian Occupation Forces.
In response, President Zardari affirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri cause, promising to continue advocating for their rights on moral, political, and diplomatic fronts. He assured that the socio-economic development of Kashmiri refugees would be addressed, pledging to increase their subsistence allowance and include 8000 migrant families in Pakistan’s Benazir Income Support Programme.
The meeting concluded with the delegation expressing gratitude for Pakistan’s solidarity and for the role of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party and former Foreign Minister, in promoting the Kashmiri cause internationally.