POK elections a complete farce, 90 civilians killed in crackdown: India

Published 4 August 2026 · local

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday accused Pakistan of trying to legitimise its control over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) through a "complete farce" of an

The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday accused Pakistan of trying to legitimise its control over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) through a "complete farce" of an election. The MEA said the polls could not hide killings, repression and protests in the region. The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, also urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for human rights violations in the territory. Read Full Story He commented a day after Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, emerged as the dominant party in the second phase of polling in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, winning 14 of the 18 contested seats. The elections, however, were held amid allegations of rigging, protests and violence. Addressing a biweekly media briefing in New Delhi, Jaiswal dismissed the elections as an attempt to create a false impression of legitimacy.

"This so-called local election in POK is a complete farce. The real happening is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow exercises cannot hide reality." #WATCH | Delhi: MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "Regarding the second phase of elections, this so-called local election in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a complete farce. The real situation is that of public protests and wanton killings by Pakistani forces. Such hollow pic.twitter.com/l7uTAzyikJ— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2026 Jaiswal said the situation on the ground painted a very different picture from the one projected by Islamabad. According to the MEA Spokesperson, Pakistan's security establishment has responded to public anger with force instead of addressing the concerns of residents. MEA ALLEGES WIDESPREAD REPRESSION The government alleged that dozens of civilians have died since June amid an ongoing security crackdown in the region.

Jaiswal said the use of force, internet restrictions and intimidation reflected the reality behind the electoral process. "Since June this year, at least 90 civilians have lost their lives in the continuing crackdown. The Pakistani Establishment has answered public discontent with bullets, blackouts, intimidation and repression, and now seeks to manufacture legitimacy through a hollow electoral exercise." He urged the international community to look beyond Pakistan's public narrative on democracy and human rights. "It must be held accountable, and the world should see through the flimsy veneer of Pakistan's hypocritical lecturing on human rights." POLLS HELD AMID PROTESTS The elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were overshadowed by continuing demonstrations. Protests were held in several parts of the region during polling. Demonstrations also took place in Pakistani cities with sizeable Kashmiri populations, including Karachi, where protesters questioned the credibility of the electoral process and demanded political reforms.