New Delhi: Amid the fallout of the general election in Pakistan, tensions have flared between key political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir, with accusations of electoral malpractice from both sides. Iltija Mufti, daughter and Media Advisor of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, triggered an exchange on Friday with an oblique reference to the role of the National Conference (NC) in the alleged rigging of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir in 1987.
Mufti's social media post drew parallels between the recent election controversy in Pakistan and the tumultuous aftermath of the 1987 elections in the region.
Furthermore, she also urged the Pakistan Army to “learn from the blood-soaked history of Jammu and Kashmir”. Lamhon nay khata ki sadiyon nay saza payi" (the price of momentary mistakes is paid over centuries), she posted on X.
Iltija Mufti also said that the people of J-K continue paying the price with their lives because of the violence triggered by rigged 1987 elections.
National Conference Hits Back With
In response, National Conference spokesperson Ifra Jan swiftly hits back, accusing PDP founder and former Union home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed of exacerbating turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir by appointing Jagmohan Malhotra as Governor in 1990.
"It's disheartening to witness Imran Khan's election loss, evoking memories of decades-long struggles against proxy parties targeting JKNC's mandate. The echoes of 1989, when then HM Mufti Sb appointed Jagmohan as Governor, plunging J-K into turmoil, feel hauntingly familiar", Jan posted on X within an hour of the PDP leader's post.
"In 1989, the entire cabinet, led by then CM Dr Abdullah, resigned because none of us wanted on our hands what was coming if Jagmohan was appointed the Governor. Yet, the HM was adamant and then the saga of loss hit its highest ebb in 2014. I feel the helplessness of those voters!" she added.
According to PTI, she referred to the alliance between PDP and BJP after the 2014 Assembly elections which threw up a hung verdict on Jammu and Kashmir. NC leaders have in the past termed the alliance as a betrayal of people's mandate as one of the main campaign points of the PDP in the 2014 elections was to stop the BJP from coming to power in the state.