Elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will be conducted on July 27, as announced by local authorities on Friday. The announcement comes amid India's consistent stance that Pakistan's control over the region is illegal.
Election Schedule and Process
The regional Election Commission issued a notification on Friday outlining the timeline for the electoral process. Candidates can submit their nomination papers from June 9 to June 19. The scrutiny of these nominations is scheduled for June 20. Candidates have until June 30 to withdraw their nominations, and the final list of contestants will be published on July 2.
Polling will take place on July 27 under the supervision of the army, paramilitary forces, and civil armed forces, an official confirmed. The Legislative Assembly of PoK comprises 53 seats, of which 45 are directly elected. The remaining eight seats are reserved for women, technocrats, and clerics. The assembly is elected for a term of five years.
India's Position on PoK
India has consistently maintained that Pakistan is in illegal occupation of the Indian Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The Indian government regards any electoral exercise in these territories as illegitimate and a violation of its sovereignty. New Delhi has repeatedly called for the return of these territories to Indian administration.
The upcoming elections are expected to be closely watched, as they occur amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir region. The international community has also expressed interest in the developments, with several countries urging restraint and dialogue.
Observers note that the electoral process in PoK is often criticized for lack of transparency and political freedom. The involvement of military and paramilitary forces in overseeing the polls has raised concerns about the fairness of the exercise. Nonetheless, the authorities in PoK have defended the elections as a democratic process.
The announcement of the election date has sparked reactions from various political groups within PoK. Some parties have welcomed the schedule, while others have called for boycotts, citing irregularities in the electoral roll and restrictions on political activities. The coming weeks are likely to see increased political campaigning and debates across the region.
