Shackled Reality: Pakistan's Doublespeak on PoK Exposed

It's a clear evidence of Pakistan's doublespeak on "freedom" for Kashmir. A nominee for elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has been disqualified because he refused to swear loyalty to Pakistan, documents accessed by CNN-News18 on Tuesday showed.

Aftab Ahmed's nomination was rejected by the Returning Officer of a constituency in PoK after he wrote that he believes in independence for Kashmir and not in the sovereignty of Pakistan,

The order issued by Muhammad Sajjad, the returning officer from Mirpur, clearly confirmed this. why Aftab was disqualified. Sajjad said Aftab had struck out three mandatory requirements in his nomination papers filed under the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Elections Ordinance 1970.

They are:

- The candidate must believe in the ideology of Pakistan

- The candidate must believe in the ideology of the State's Accession to Pakistan

- The candidate must believe in the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan

After striking out these three pre-requisites, Aftab instead wrote he believes in the ideology of independence of Kashmir.

Defending his action, the returning officer pointed out that under Section 5(2)(viii) of The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Elections Ordinance 1970, a person shall be disqualified if he is against the state's accession to Pakistan.

Which means that Aftab Ahmed, who believes in Azad Kashmir, cannot contest elections in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir which Islamabad calls 'Azad Kashmir'.

It also shows Pakistan's shrewdness in blocking any opportunity for the electorate to exercise their voting rights freely.

As per its constitution, even a government which enjoys a majority can be summarily dismissed by the Pakistan government.

Power in PoK is exercised through Pak Army Headquarters, Rawalpindi & Corps Command, Murree. Its constitution precludes all those who favour Kashmiri independence. High ranking officials including the Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary, Inspector-general of police, among others, are sent from Islamabad.