India Calls PoJK Local Body Elections a 'Farce', Slams Pakistan Over Crackdown

New Delhi: India on Tuesday dismissed the local body elections held in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as a "complete farce", asserting that the electoral exercise cannot conceal the ground realities prevailing in the region. Addressing a regular media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the ongoing protests, civilian deaths and alleged repression by Pakistani authorities expose the true situation in PoJK. "This so-called local election in PoJK is a complete farce. The real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide reality," Jaiswal said. He alleged that since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown by Pakistani forces. According to the MEA, widespread protests have been taking place in PoJK over the past several weeks over rising living costs, alleged administrative neglect, political discrimination and reported atrocities against minorities. Jaiswal accused the Pakistani establishment of responding to public discontent with "bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression" while attempting to create an appearance of legitimacy through what he described as a "hollow electoral exercise." "It must be held accountable, and the world should see through the flimsy veneer of Pakistan's hypocritical lecturing on human rights," he added. The MEA spokesperson was responding to a question regarding the local body elections held in PoJK. The protests have been spearheaded by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has been leading demonstrations across the region. According to reports, Pakistani security forces used lethal force against JAAC protesters during a long march from Rawalakote to Muzaffarabad late last month. The crackdown reportedly left 40 civilians dead and more than 33 protesters injured. The JAAC has since appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council and other international human rights organisations, seeking an independent investigation into what it described as the "unlawful killings" of civilians.