SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday expressed concern over reports of violence in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), calling for restraint, dialogue and respect for the rights of protesters.
Reacting to visuals emerging from across the Line of Control, Mehbooba Mufti said the images from the other side of Kashmir were “deeply heartbreaking” and urged the Government of Pakistan to abandon the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
“It is painful to see peaceful protesters being met with brute force. The Government of Pakistan must adopt a more humane approach and choose dialogue over force,” Mufti said in a post on X.
She said reports suggested that the protesters’ demands were genuine and deserved to be heard.
“No nation grows stronger by disempowering its own people or by silencing them at gunpoint. The Government must end the crackdown and stop spraying bullets at peaceful protesters. Kashmiris deserve dignity, justice, and the right to be heard, not repression,” she added.
Her remarks came amid reports that at least 14 activists of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) were killed and more than two dozen others injured during clashes with security personnel on the first day of elections to the so-called legislative assembly in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah questioned the Centre’s silence over the violence, saying New Delhi should raise the issue if it considers Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir an integral part of India.
“They keep saying that PoK is our part. If it is your part, then why don’t you talk about it? Why don’t you say that whatever is happening there should stop? I have not heard any statement from the government on it,” Abdullah said.
The former Chief Minister said he had repeatedly appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to visit the region, assess the situation and help address the grievances of the people.
“I have said this many times. I have appealed to the United Nations Human Rights Council to go there, see what the people’s problems are and try to address them,” he said.
Abdullah also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to speak out on the situation in PoK.
The National Conference leader’s remarks followed India’s rejection of the elections held in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. New Delhi has described the electoral exercise as an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage what it calls its illegal occupation of the territory and to divert attention from alleged human rights violations in the region.
Responding to another question, Abdullah said the government should honour the assurances it had given to the protesters, including withdrawing FIRs and ending harassment of people accused of supporting the agitation.
“If the government does not fulfil the promises it has made, revoke the FIRs, and stop harassing those who provided food, water and support to the protesters, then this campaign will grow further and bring about change,” he said.
Abdullah declined to comment on Mufti’s recent apology over remarks she had made at Jantar Mantar, saying, “I do not want to say anything about it.”
Asked about the PDP’s proposed protests on August 5, marking the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah said, “It is her job; she can do what she likes.”
