Pakistan-administered Kashmir has been embroiled in a deadly clash during regional elections, with protests turning violent and resulting in the loss of life. The primary governing party, the PML-N, secured nine out of the 13 available seats in the districts of Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber on Monday.

Election Details

The election, initially scheduled to be held in one round on July 27, was split into three separate votes by districts due to security concerns. The second and third rounds are set for August 2 and August 10, respectively.

The party that won the elections in 2021, the Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has boycotted the vote over concerns of electoral fraud. The region’s primary protest movement, the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), was banned by the regional government in June, prompting deadly protests last month.

Protest Movement

The JAAC has accused the national government in Islamabad of interference in their political affairs and economic neglect. Discontent has often erupted into protests over economic issues, including high electricity prices in the region, which supplies other parts of Pakistan with cheap hydroelectric power.

Supporters of greater regional autonomy have accused the national government of using seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir to manipulate local politics. The JAAC has focused on calls for electoral reform, with 12 of the 45 directly elected seats in the local legislative assembly reserved for constituencies representing refugees.

According to reports, more than 30 people have been killed in clashes around one town, although this figure has not been independently verified due to disruptions in banking, roads, and internet services.

Government Response

Authorities have justified the crackdown by alleging that armed and India-backed militants joined the Kashmiri protesters. India has rejected similar accusations in the past.

Pakistani officials have confirmed that a member of the security personnel was killed and five more were injured in clashes on Monday. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged at least three fatalities among protesters in Mirpur this week.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.