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MEA slams local elections in PoK, calls them ‘complete farce’

hellohimachalse@gmail.com 04 Aug 2026 4 days ago

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for conducting local elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling it a “complete farce”, which cannot hide the fact.

Addressing the media persons, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Pakistan has responded to public discontent in PoK with blackouts, bullets, intimidation and blackouts. Said the lives of at least 90 civilians were killed in the region.

What MEA spokesperson said in media briefing?

“These so-called local elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a complete farce. The real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by the Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide reality. Since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown; many more have been injured as you have seen,” Jaiswal said as per news agency IANS.

He added, “The Pakistani establishment has answered public discontent with bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression and now seeks to manufacture legitimacy through a hollow electoral exercise. It must be held accountable, and the world should see through the veneer of Pakistan’s hypocritical lecturing on human rights.”

PoK witnesses violent clashes in recent times

In recent times, the PoK has seen violent clashes, allegations of poll rigging, and the killing of several people, which overshadowed the first phase of polls in PoK. Coalition partners have also accused each other of undermining the electoral process. The protests led by Jammu and Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JKJAAC) started on June 5, which continued to increase

Sharing a message on X, JKJAAC wrote, “Security forces are using live fire and tear gas against unarmed civilians in Bagh. We call on the United Nations, OHCHR, international media, and human rights organisations to urgently monitor the situation and press for the protection of civilians and accountability for any unlawful use of force.”

“This video shows security personnel setting fire to civilians’ motorcycles in Makri, Muzaffarabad. We call on the United Nations, OHCHR, international media, and human rights organisations to document these reported incidents and press for an independent investigation and accountability,” it added.

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