PoK elections a farce: J&K leader

Terming next month's elections in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir as a 'farce', senior Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader Shabir Chowdhary has come down heavily on the Pakistani establishment. He has questioned its moral right to speak on behalf of people of Kashmir.

"Pakistan claims to be a well-wisher of the Kashmiri people and assumed a role of an 'advocate'. A lawyer or an advocate is appointed by a client to get justice. In case of Kashmir dispute, our self-appointed advocate is bent upon depriving its 'client' of everything," he said.

Chowdhary added that 'the advocate has already encroached Gilgit and Baltistan and has full control over the remaining area on this side of the LOC to exploit its resources'

• 'Life in PoK is worse than death'

Stating that while Pakistan 'is flouting the basic human rights of people in Gilgit, Balistan and PoK' but what 'adds to the tragedy' is that 'some people of Jammu and Kashmir still think that their 'advocate' is doing well, and should be given another chance to represent them'.

"When Pakistan talks of rights of Kashmiri people and their right of self-determination, many laugh because Pakistan is not ready to give basic human rights to Kashmiris living under its control," the JKLF leader said. "Many people ask what moral right Pakistan has to act on our behalf or to speak about our rights."