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| Imran Khan and Kashmiri leaders | | Pakistan elections | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 27: Elections to Pakistan National Asembly were held on July 25 and results were out Thursday. Army-supported Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf Party (PTI) of former cricketer-turned-politician Imaran Khan emerged as the single largest party winning over 110 seats. Elections in Pakistan were Pakistan's internal affair, but Kashmiri leaders of all hues took keen interest in the elections and poll outcome as if the electoral exercise in Pakistan was meant for the resolution of the so-called Kashmir issue. Almost all the leaders in Kashmir, the so-called mainstream and separatist, have expressed their happiness over the election outcome as if the people of Pakistan have elected Imran Khan to resolve the Kashmir issue. The Jamaat-e-Islami in Kashmir perhaps is the only religious outfit in Kashmir which has taken a line different from other leaders in the Valley.
The Jamaat-e-Islami has said that "the people of Pakistan rejected Islam, as election results showed that secular parties were winning most of the seats". It was Jamaat spokesman, Zahid Ali, who took to Facebook and wrote thus: "The Pakistani people proved beyond doubt that they never liked the Islamic system of life though they call themselves Muslims! They inadvertently rejected Islam".
What has made leaders feel happy in Kashmir was what Imran Khan said after performing well in the elections, which left PML-N and PPP far behind. On Indo-Pak relations vis-a-vis Kashmir Imran Khan on Thursday said: "Kashmiris have been suffering for long, and we have to solve the Kashmir issue by sitting across the table. If India's leadership is willing, then both of us can solve this issue through dialogue. Kashmir is a core issue. India is violating human rights in Kashmir".
PPDP president Mehbooba Mufti and former chief minister has commended the people of Pakistan for rejecting "extremist forces" in the polls. She has termed it as the "strength of democracy". "It is heartening to know that the people of Pakistan have rejected extremist forces in the elections. That is the strength of democracy. One always gets to choose," she on Thursday tweeted.
As for the National Conference, it said: "We want a stable Pakistan, and hope that the new government led by Imran Khan takes slow but concrete steps towards establishing friendship with India. His first speech has set the tone. I think it is for New Delhi to start afresh with the new leader". It was former MoS, Home, and senior NC leader, Nasir Aslam Wani, who spoke for the NC. He also added that "dialogue is the only way forward for these two counties and it has a bearing on those of us who live in Kashmir".
Hurriyat leaders too have welcomed the statement of Imran Khan, particularly his assertion that "Kashmir is core issue between India and Pakistan and two countries resolve Kashmir dispute through dialogue". They have expressed the view that the "stable government in Pakistan will help resume dialogue with India". Those from the Hurriyat Conference (Mirwaiz) and Hurriyat Conference (Geelani) who have hailed Imran Khan's statement included Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and former Hurriyat Conference chief and chairman of Muslim Conference Abdul Gani Bhat. Spokesperson of Hurriyat Conference (Geelsani) Ghulam Ahmad Gulzar has said that Geelani will issue a statement on the Pakistan elections in a day or two. "We will issue a statement about it. Let's wait for some time," Gulzar said. The whole point is that the outcome of Pakistan elections has enthused Kashmiri leaders, both "mainstream" and separatist. This should only establish that they all see in Pakistan their saviour and that they have little or no faith in the Indian leadership. But more than that, their views clearly suggested yet again that they do not consider Jammu & Kashmir a settled issue. It is a matter of regret that they take the entire population of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh for granted suggesting that they represent the general will of the people in the state. |
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