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US urges Pakistan restraint amid PoK election crackdown
Times of India··8 Aug
The United States on August 7 urged Pakistani authorities to exercise restraint and act according to law amid a crackdown linked to protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. A State Department spokesperson also called for conditions allowing free, fair and peaceful elections with access to information. Authorities postponed voting in seven of eleven Poonch Division seats set for August 10.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Readers following South Asia security can note Washington publicly urged restraint during the PoK election crackdown.
- Anyone tracking regional polls can see seven of eleven August 10 Poonch seats postponed over law-and-order concerns.
- Observers of Pakistan politics can watch the dispute over twelve refugee seats that JAAC says distort local leadership choice.
What's Happening
- The US State Department urged Pakistani authorities to exercise restraint and respect fundamental freedoms.
- It also called for conditions that allow free, fair and peaceful elections with access to information.
- PoK authorities postponed voting in seven of eleven constituencies scheduled for August 10.
Why Protests Intensified Around The Polls
- JAAC protests since June centre on twelve refugee seats that critics say let Pakistan install preferred PoK leadership.
- At least thirty people were reported killed in June-July clashes, while JAAC claims much higher casualties rejected by Islamabad.
- PML-N emerged ahead after the first two polling phases held on July 27 and August 2.
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