'For God's Sake, Reject This Election': Kashmiri Leader's Emotional Appeal Before PoK Polls
'For God's Sake, Reject This Election': Kashmiri Leader's Emotional Appeal Before PoK Polls Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 21, 2026, 12:39 IST JAAC
'For God's Sake, Reject This Election': Kashmiri Leader's Emotional Appeal Before PoK Polls Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 21, 2026, 12:39 IST JAAC leader Umar Nazir Kashmiri described the elections as a "sham" and appealed to citizens to stay away from the electoral process Rapid Read Umar Nazir Kashmiri issued a strong appeal urging people across the region to boycott the polls. The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has intensified its opposition to the upcoming elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), with its core member Umar Nazir Kashmiri issuing a strong appeal urging people across the region to boycott the polls. In a public address, Kashmiri described the elections as a “sham" and appealed to citizens to stay away from the electoral process, arguing that participation would legitimise those he holds responsible for recent violence and political repression in the region. “Appeal to the people of the entire state that, for God’s sake, understand this delicate phase of history," Kashmiri said, urging residents to view the elections in the context of the recent unrest in PoK. The JAAC emerged as one of the most prominent voices during the mass protests that swept PoK over issues such as inflation, electricity tariffs and governance.
Demonstrations escalated into violent clashes earlier this year, with casualties reported and several protesters injured or arrested. The movement has since remained critical of the authorities and mainstream political parties operating in the region. Targeting candidates participating in the upcoming elections, Kashmiri alleged that those contesting the polls, as well as those supporting them, had betrayed the people. “Those who are currently involved in the election process, who are contesting the elections or getting others to contest them, are all the killers of our martyrs," he said. He further accused political parties of being responsible for the people’s deprivation of rights and linked them to what he described as terrorism and violence that had continued since June 5. “They are the killers of our deprivations. They are the killers of our rights. The terrorism that has been carried out from June 5 until now happened because of them," Kashmiri claimed. He also alleged that the deployment of security forces during the protests was orchestrated by political parties, saying, “Forces were called on by these people. All these parties are players in this game." Making an emotional appeal, the JAAC leader urged citizens to reject the electoral exercise entirely.
The BriefWire