Friday, June 16 2006 11:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Terming next month's elections in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir as a 'farce', senior JKLF leader Shabir Chowdhary has come down heavily on the Pakistani establishment and questioned its moral right to speak on behalf of people of Kashmir.

"Pakistan claims to be a well-wisher of the Kashmiri people and assumed a role of an 'advocate'. A lawyer or an advocate is appointed by a client to get justice. In case of Kashmir dispute, our self-appointed advocate is bent upon depriving its 'client' of everything," he said. "This so-called 'advocate' has already encroached Gilgit and Baltistan; and has full control over the remaining area on this side of the LOC to exploit its resources. This advocate continues to claim that 'I am your friend, your well wisher and I know what is best for you," Chaudhury, Chairman of the JKLF Diplomatic Committee, said in a statement here.

He said while Pakistani regime was flouting the basic human rights of the people in Gilgit and Baltistan and PoK, "What adds to the tragedy is that some people of Jammu and Kashmir still think that their 'advocate' is doing well, and should be given another chance to represent them."

"When Pakistan talks of rights of Kashmiri people and right of self-determination for the people in (Jammu and) Kashmir, many non Pakistanis laugh because Pakistan is not ready to give basic human rights to Kashmiris living under its control," the JKLF leader said.

"Many people ask, morally what right Pakistan has to act on our behalf or to speak about rights of the people when they are not willing to give same rights to people living under its control," he added.