‘PoK would have joined Jammu and Kashmir if…’: CM Omar Abdullah's pitch for statehood in Independence Day address
His remarks come amid continued action by Pakistani security forces against people in PoK, with several protesters reportedly killed in firing in recent months.
Jammu and Kashmir's chief minister, Omar Abdullah, delivered an Independence Day address from Srinagar, expressing his perspective on the situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He claimed that the region would have sought statehood with Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) if the central government had not removed its special status and statehood in 2019. During his speech at an Independence Day function, Abdullah highlighted the pain, regret, and deep distress caused by the ongoing conflict across the Line of Control (LoC).
In his remarks, Abdullah emphasized that the people of PoK should be considered as "our own." He mentioned that seats have been reserved for them in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, with the hope that one day those individuals would be able to utilize those vacant seats. Abdullah reiterated his government's commitment to restoring the statehood and constitutional guarantees to Jammu and Kashmir.
He reaffirmed that his government remains dedicated to representing the people and working towards achieving the vision of those who fought for freedom and were martyred.
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