KARACHI, Aug 11: Accusing Pakistan’s federal government of massive rigging in the recent Azad Jammu and Kashmir polls, chief of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Muslim League, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, on Friday demanded that recently held elections should be quashed and fresh elections be held under a neutral interim set-up.

Speaking at a news conference at the Karachi Press Club, Mr Mahmood accused the Pakistan government of indulging in massive rigging and allegedly undermining the cause of the Kashmiris. He also demanded the opposition parties in Pakistan to include the issue of rigging of elections in the AJK, part of their no confidence move against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

He said that in view of the rigging, now the elections to the 12 seats of the Kashmiri refugees should be held on an indirect basis, as was being done in the case of overseas Kashmiris. He accused the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs of massive indulgence in the elections in a partisan way and claimed it had in the process breeding hatred and alienation among the Kashmiris. He was also concerned over the appointment of advisers and judges in the AJK.

Mr Mahmood said that when General Musharraf had come out with the self-governance proposal, it was well-received. He remarked that after what had happened in the recent elections had only raised a big question mark about it. He said that when in the AJK rights of the Kashmiris were not protected and sanctity of their ballot was not maintained, then how could we raise voice against the Indian atrocities and repressive policies.

Barrister Mahmood, who distributed a white paper on the “hijacked” AJK elections, maintained that denying the right of vote and hijacking the verdict of Kashmiri voters was unfortunate and revealing. He claimed that it would have an impact on the struggle of the Kashmiris on either side of the LoC. He emphasised that it was necessary to resist and expose the attempts of pre-planned scheme.

He was of the view that the outcome was part of the scheme the “troika of enlightened elements “, stretched from Islamabad and Muzaffarabad to Srinagar, had envisaged. It included division of Kashmir, softening up of the LoC.

He also questioned the impartiality of General Musharraf in the polls and alleged that his meetings with Sardar Abdul Qayum and his son Sardar Atique, in uniform, before the elections, was a clear signal of partisan nature and blew up his neutrality.

Barrister Mahmood claimed the binding force for the “troika” was a formula for the division of Kashmir and leaving the Kashmiris at the mercy of India.

Referring to the internal aspect of the operation that was carried out in the name of elections in the Azad Kashmir related to billions of rupees that were otherwise meant for the rehabilitation of the displaced people and reconstruction of the areas that were worst hit by the devastating earthquake of October 8, 2005.

He alleged that greedy elements were aiming to grab this huge amount and called for financial transparency so that the amount was spent judiciously and instead of ending up in the pockets of some big shots, should reach the deserving people.

He made it clear that the rigged elections sent wrong signals to occupied Kashmir and did not bode well for Pakistan, either.