Violence has erupted in many districts of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, as local people came out in the streets and started widespread protests against July 21 elections, alleging that they have been rigged. Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 32 out of 41 seats, in that election. PoK Assembly hall and other government buildings are also where the protesters have been demonstrating. According to the protesters they were barred from casting their votes. They also claimed that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency from Pakistan were the one responsible for the elecions being rigged.
Cities like Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Chinari and Kotli were embroiled in heavy violence in the past two days. A Muslim Conference (MC) supporter was earlier killed by PML(N) members at Muzaffarabad, which triggered the protests.
The protesters had to face the police’s wrath as they burnt Pakistani flag and raised slogans against the government.
Besides blackening election posters, the protesters also burnt tyres, blocked traffic and clashed with the police personnel deployed on duty.
Locals allege that the elections in PoK are always fixed in favour of the ruling party in Pakistan, in current instance, for the PML-N.