ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari categorically rejected elections for legislative assembly of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), asserting that these polls were no substitute for Kashmiri people's right to self-determination.

President Zardari talking to delegation of migrants from IIOJK residing in Pakistan since 1989 led by Uzair Ahmed Ghazali at Aiwan-e-Sadr, emphasised that such elections were unacceptable to people of Kashmir and called upon international community to hold Modi government accountable for ongoing human rights violations in IIOJK.

He urged need to take concrete steps toward conducting plebiscite in line with relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Welcoming delegation, he condemned legislative assembly elections in IIOJK, terming them as part of India's broader strategy to consolidate its illegal occupation of region. He highlighted that such measures could neither legitimise India's occupation nor suppress freedom struggle of Kashmiri people.

He said that India was trying to alter demographic structure of IIOJK by turning Kashmiri Muslims into minority and transforming them into disempowered community in their own land. "Pakistan greatly valued sacrifices made by Kashmiri people for their rights and would continue to stand in solidarity with them," he said. Delegation apprised President about atrocities being committed by Modi regime in disputed territory.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 19 2024

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