Riots after rigged elections in Gilgit Baltistan

London, 22 December 2009
Elections were held today, 21 December 2009, in LA19, District Ghizer, to elect member for Gilgit Baltistan Assembly.

Front runner in this election was Nawaz Naji, a leader of National Balwaristan Front. It was widely believed that Nawaz Naji would win this seat with a big margin. Through out the day all the poles and reports from all 12 poling stations indicated that Nawaz Naji was leading the poles. Up till 8pm at night it was declared that Nawaz Naji was leading the poles.

Supporters of Nawaz Naji were preparing for celebrations when, to surprise of everyone, at 9pm it was declared that Peoples Party candidate Pir Saeed Karam Ali Shah has won the elections.

This news resulted in a strong protest by supporters of Nawaz Naji in various localities. The police and Rangers responded by firing at the protesters which killed on person and injured.

This further infuriated the angry people and they have started attacking official government building and public property. The situation is very tensed and supporters of Nawaz Naji fear for life of their leader and other senior political activists.

The protesters reject Pakistani style of democracy in Gilgit Baltistan and demanded new elections.

Shafqat Inquilabi, a leader of BNF while talking to Dr Shabir Choudhry on phone said, ‘All those who love democracy and believe in human rights of people must protest against this attack on fundamental rights of people, and oppose Pakistani imperialist design in Gilgit Baltisan’.

He further said, ‘He would hold a press conference in Muzaffarabad (tomorrow 23 December) to expose the rigging and Pakistani oppression in Gilgit Baltistan.

Those who want to get more information or express support, they can reach Shafqat Inquilabi on this number: 0092- 436 5100 270

Issued by Dr Shabir Choudhry
Mobile: 0044 77909 42471

IHK observes strike in protest against Lok Sabha polls

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 NEW DELHI:

Kashmir is totally closed on Wednesday to protest against holding of Lok Sabha polls being held in Baramulla and Ladakh regions. The strike was called on by Hurriyat leaders, who have been put under house arrest preventing them to lead anti-polls rallies. Streets, roads and market places presented deserted look as Indian security personnel, deployed in thousands in the valley restricted the movement of the people. Security personnel were not allowing Kashmiris to move outside their localities and roads in the cities and towns to foil any attempt of staging anti-polls rallies.The Hurriyat leaders including APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Ali Shah Geelani and Yasin Malik have described the present polls as a futile exercise as the people of Kashmir want right of self determination and not sham elections being held in the presence of thousands of security personnel.

Complete strike observed in Indian occupied Kashmir

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
SRINAGAR: Complete strike is being observed in Indian occupied Kashmir, on Tuesday, against the holding of the fifth phase of Indian parliamentary elections to be conducted tomorrow in Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts.

The call for the strike was given by senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani to demonstrate to the international community that the Kashmiris rejected polls drama in the occupied territory.

All business establishments, educational institutions, government and semi-government offices, banks and courts are closed while traffic is off the road.

On the other hand, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Gilani, Agha Syed Hassan Al-Moosvi, Nayeem Ahmed Khan and other Hurriyet leaders are continuing to remain under house arrest.

Poor voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir

JAMMU: Security personnel outnumbered voters at polling stations in the predominantly mountainous Lok Sabha constituency of Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir where the second of the five-phase parliamentary polls was underway onThursday.According to election officials, only five percent 5% turnout was recorded in the first three hours of polling, which began at 7 a.m.Tight security was in place in this constituency that witnessed gunfights between separatist militants and security personnel till a day before."I was the first one to cast a vote but there was no one before or after me," said Riaz Ahmad, a resident of Kishtwar who went to vote at 7.15 a.m.Some said they weren't interested in the ballot process."I was one among first to cast the vote in assembly elections in November last year. But I don't feel like voting now as I feel all the parties have cheated us," said Sham Lal, a tea stall owner near Tikri.

Crackdown against IHK Hurriyet leaders

SRINAGAR:(Friday, April 24, 2009) Indian held Kashmir’s several Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Faruque have been arrested.Kashmir media service said that several Hurriyet leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farugue, Yasin Malik, Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai, Naeem Ahmad Khan, Yasmin Raja and Farida Bahenji have been detained in their houses for averting their address after the Friday prayers, which was scheduled at different places in the Indian held Kashmir and protests demonstrations were to be staged against the Indian elections.Hurriyet conference declaring the elections under Indian laws a farce appealed to the people to keep themselves away from these elections. All Parties Hurrriyet Conference has completely boycotted the underway two-phase elections in IHK keeping its tradition of the past 20 years.