PoK polls on Jul 11; JKLF, others to protest

Islamabad, Jul 10: With the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front(JKLF) and other nationalist parties deciding to protest the elections to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Assembly, only pro-Pakistani parties are left in the fray for the polls tomorrow.

Seven political parties, including All Party National Alliance(APNA) and the JKLF, which have been debarred from contesting the elections for refusing to declare their allegiance to the state's accession to Paskistan, are holding protest rallies tomorrow throughout the state.

JKLF leader Ammanullah Khan said his party will take out protest rallies and the purpose is to highlight atrocities committed by the Pakistan government against the Kashmiris.

Tehreek-e-Kashmir leader Mohammed Ghalib expressed fears that the polls will be manipulated to bring in ''rulers loyal to Gen Pervez Musharraf''.

There are 369 candidates in the fray for 41 seats and the newly elected legislators will nominate eight members. Similarly, 58,000 Kashmiri migrants settled across Pakistan will exercise their franchise for 12 migrants' constituencies.

Judging from the mood, it appears that the ruling Muslim Conference may stage a comeback in the elections even as present Prime Minister Sikandar Hayat Khan has opted out of the fray.

However, differences continue in the party between Sardar Qayuum Khan and Sikandar Hayat groups as the former gruop got the majority of party seats.

Other parties contesting in the elections are the Peoples Party, Peoples Muslim League and Muttahida Majlis Amal. Mr Altaf Hussain's Muttahida Quami Morcha will also be in the fray for the first time.

UNI

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