Pok Protest: ‘Exercise restraint, act according to law’: US urges Pakistan amid PoK crackdown

United States on Friday urged the Pakistan government to exercise restraint amid its ongoing crackdown on citizens following violent protests.Speaking to news agency ANI, a US state department spokesperson urged Pakistani authorities to create conditions for free and fair elections that can be conducted peacefully.“As with electoral proceedings around the world, we urge officials to create the conditions for free and fair elections that can be conducted in a peaceful manner, including ensuring access to information,” the spokesperson said.The state department also called on local authorities to exercise restraint and act in accordance with the country’s laws and Constitution.“We call on all protesters to express their grievances peacefully, and we call on local authorities to exercise restraint, act in accordance with their country’s laws and Constitution, and respect fundamental freedoms as they seek to maintain order,” the spokesperson added.The remarks came as at least 30 people, including protesters, security personnel and bystanders, were killed in clashes during June and July.The banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has been staging protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) since June over the contentious 12 refugee seats. It has alleged that Pakistan’s establishment manipulates these seats to install a prime minister of its choice to lead the so-called PoK government.According to JAAC, more than 40 people were killed during the first phase of polling on July 27. It also claims that around 400 protesters have been killed since the first week of June.The Shehbaz Sharif government has rejected the claims, calling the figures “overly exaggerated”.“The number of people killed in the protests is in two digits. Moreover, security personnel have also lost their lives,” Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said in a recent television interview.Meanwhile, voting in seven of the 11 constituencies scheduled for the third phase of polls in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on August 10 has been postponed indefinitely due to “concerns over the law-and-order situation”, authorities announced on Friday.After the first and second phases of polling, which were marred by violent protests, were held on July 27 and August 2, respectively, voting was scheduled for Monday in 11 constituencies of the Poonch Division in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.There are 53 seats in the so-called PoK Legislative Assembly – 45 are directly elected, while eight are reserved for women, technocrats and clerics.The second phase of polling on August 2 was marred by violence and allegations of rigging. One person was killed and several others were injured. The phase also included voting for the 12 refugee seats, which are at the centre of the ongoing controversy.Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) swept the second phase, winning 16 seats, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured the remaining five.In the first phase on July 27, PML-N won nine of the 13 seats, while PPP won four. With the first two phases combined, PML-N has already secured 24 seats.