India’s non-resident voting plans for Kashmir anger Pakistan

PAKISTAN prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has spoken of his wish for “peaceful relations” with India based on the principles of “equity, justice and mutual respect” and the resolution Kashmir, according to a media report last Friday (19).

Sharif (left) also urged the international community to play a “facilitative role” to ensure peace and stability in south Asia, the report added, amid strained bilateral ties over Kashmir and alleged cross border terrorism.

Sharif expressed these views during a meeting with the newlyappointed Australian high commissioner to Pakistan, Neil Hawkins, last Thursday (18), the Dawn quoted the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as saying.

“Pakistan desires peaceful ties with India, based on the principles of equity, justice and mutual respect. In this context, a just and peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people, was indispensable,” Sharif said.

“The international community has to play a facilitative role in this regard, as it was essential for durable peace and stability in south Asia,” he added.

India has previously reiterated to Pakistan its wish for normal, neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence.

India has said the onus is on Pakistan to create an environment free of terror and hostility.

Sharif’s remarks came days after India decided to allow nonlocals living in Jammu and Kashmir to register their names in the voting list and cast their ballot in elections in the union territory.

Prior to the abrogation of Article 370, which granted autonomy to the region, only permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir as defined by the state subject law were entitled to voting rights.

However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office last Friday (19) said it rejected India’s announcement of permitting temporary residents, including migrant workers from outside the region and security personnel, to register as ‘voters’ in Jammu and Kashmir.

It is an “Indian design to influence the outcome of ‘so-called’ elections” in Jammu and Kashmir

and deliberate attempts “of pre-poll rigging and overt manipulation”, the Foreign Office said in a statement.

Jammu and Kashmir chief electoral officer Hirdesh Kumar last Wednesday (17) announced that the union territory was likely to get add 2.5 million voters, including those from outside the state, after the special summary revision of electoral rolls carried out for the first time after the revocation of Article 370.

Ties became strained after Delhi withdrew the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir.