look news india
Voting for the first phase of assembly elections has started from today, July 27, amid massive protests and tight security arrangements in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Election Commission of Pakistan has decided to conduct voting in three phases this time in view of the ongoing public anger and security concerns in the region. Voting is being held on 13 seats of Mirpur division in the first phase today, while in the second phase voting will be held on August 2 and in the third phase on August 10. Not only Pakistan, but also India and the international community are keeping a close eye on this election to be held on a total of 53 seats.
Elections in 3 phases and big controversy over 12 refugee seats
According to the schedule of the Election Commission, on August 2, voting will be held on 9 seats of Muzaffarabad division as well as 12 seats reserved for refugees. Voting will be held on 11 seats of Poonch in the last phase on August 10. The biggest controversy in this entire election is regarding these 12 refugee seats. Local organizations and ‘Jammu-Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee’ (JKJAAC) seriously allege that the Government of Pakistan, under the guise of these seats, works to benefit its favorite party and rig the election results, thereby weakening the real representation of the local people.
How is the administration of PoK run and which party is the main contest between?
Practically the entire system of PoK works under the tight control of Pakistan. So to speak, the MLAs elected here elect the Prime Minister and President of the region, but at the administrative and policy level, the actual decisions are taken by the ‘Kashmir Council’ headed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the army there. This time the main contest in the elections is believed to be between Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Interestingly, both these parties, which run the government together at the Centre, are facing each other for power in PoK. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has heated up politics by holding a rally in Muzaffarabad and expressing his desire to become the Prime Minister of PoK.
Mass movement sparked by inflation and India’s strong message
For the past several months, the people of PoK have been continuously on the streets against high inflation, exorbitant electricity bills and Pakistani policies. This movement has now taken the form of a major political struggle against the presence of Pakistan government and army. On the other hand, India has once again made its stand clear to the whole world. New Delhi clearly says that the entire Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh including Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan are an integral and inseparable part of India. India completely rejects this illegal election process and considers every issue related to PoK as its purely internal matter.