Islamabad, September 18, 2024 – President Asif Ali Zardari has firmly rejected the elections for the Legislative Assembly in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), stating that these elections are no replacement for the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.
During a meeting in Islamabad with a delegation of IIOJK migrants, led by Uzair Ahmed Ghazali, President Zardari underscored that these elections are unacceptable to the Kashmiri people. He called on the international community to hold the Modi government accountable for its continued human rights abuses in the region. The President also stressed the need for concrete steps toward holding a plebiscite in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Condemning the elections, President Zardari described them as part of India’s broader strategy to consolidate its illegal occupation of Kashmir. He emphasized that such measures cannot legitimize India’s control nor suppress the Kashmiri people’s struggle for freedom. The President accused India of attempting to alter IIOJK’s demographic composition by turning Kashmiri Muslims into a minority in their own land.
President Zardari reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Kashmiri people, acknowledging their sacrifices in the fight for their rights. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to providing moral, political, and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris until they realize their right to self-determination.
The delegation briefed the President on the atrocities being committed by the Modi government in IIOJK, including the imprisonment of Kashmiri leaders to silence dissent. They also raised concerns about the conditions faced by refugees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
President Zardari called for a formal protest against India’s illegal actions and assured the delegation that Pakistan remains committed to improving the socio-economic conditions of refugees. He pledged that the government of AJK would be instructed to increase subsistence allowances and extend additional relief to Kashmiri refugees. Furthermore, Pakistan’s social safety programs, including the Benazir Income Support Programme, would be expanded to cover 8,000 migrant families.
The delegation expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s continued support and lauded the efforts of Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for championing the cause of the Kashmiri people during his tenure as Foreign Minister.
