MEA calls PoK elections a 'farce', alleges Pakistan answered protests with bullets

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday termed the recently concluded local elections in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) a "complete farce," accusing Pakistani forces of employing violence, blackouts, intimidation, and repression against civilians in the region.

Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide reality." He claimed that at least 90 civilians have been killed since June in what he described as a continuing crackdown by the Pakistani establishment.

"Since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown," Jaiswal said. "The Pakistani Establishment has answered public discontent with bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression, and now seeks to manufacture legitimacy through a hollow electoral exercise."

The MEA spokesperson urged the international community to hold Islamabad accountable, stating, "The world should see through the flimsy veneer of Pakistan's hypocritical lecturing on human rights." The comments came in the backdrop of protests and disruptions surrounding the PoK elections, with demonstrations reported across the region.

Human rights and press freedom groups have also raised concerns over alleged state violence, restrictions on the media, and internet shutdowns during the protests. The MEA's remarks appear to align with these concerns, though the claims of civilian casualties have not been independently verified.

In a separate development, the MEA called on Pakistan to take "decisive action" against cross-border terrorism. This followed a viral video showing Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba members claiming that 30-40 of their commanders had been killed and alleging Indian agencies were behind the killings. Jaiswal responded, "We continue to call upon all countries to take strong action against cross-border terrorism and those who promote it."

He added, "We also call upon Pakistan to take decisive action against cross-border terrorism and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating from its soil." The remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of Pakistan's handling of terrorism and its actions in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The MEA's statements underline India's position on PoK, which it regards as part of Indian territory under illegal occupation. However, the allegations against Pakistan and the reported civilian deaths have not been corroborated by independent sources. Pakistan has previously rejected such claims, and no immediate response from Islamabad was available at the time of writing.