JKLF urge UN to intervene in PoK Assembly election

Jammu, July 4 (UNI) The Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) has urged the United Nations to persuade Pakistan to repeal and abrogate undemocratic electoral laws imposed in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

JKLF chairman Amanullah Khan, in a letter sent to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, has raised the rejection of nomination papers of the front's candidates in PoK Legislative Assembly election which is to be held on July 11.

The nomination papers of as many as about 50 candidates, 30 of them JKLF nominees, were rejected for being in favour of complete independence of Jammu&Kashmir whereas under electoral rules, only those who are in favour of state's accession to Pakistan can contest in the elections.

The letter added that appeals against these rejections were also rejected.

''By rejecting 50 nomination papers on the basis of their pro-independence political views, the authorities had not only deprived 50 candidates of their right to contest elections but also had deprived hundreds of thousands of pro-independence voters of their basic political right,'' he said in the letter.

These electoral laws, the letter said, were not only akin to the universally condemned apartheid laws which was in force in South Africa, but also was against the principles envisaged in the UN Charter and the basics of democracy. The laws were contrary to Pakistan's claim of supporting Kashmiri's right to self-determination, the letter added.

UNI HGV MA PC1631