A complete shutdown is being observed in occupied Kashmir today on the first phase of the Indian parliamentary elections as well as brutal measures against the Kashmiri people and their leadership. Call for the strike has been given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) comprising Syed Ali Gillani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, RadioPakistan reported. The shutdown is also being observed against the closure of Kashmir’s main highway for civilians and the recent attack by Indian police and forces on inmates in Srinagar Central Jail. Voting in the first of seven rounds is being held in 91 parliament constituencies across 20 states and federally administered regions. Pollsters say support for the BJP rose in response to Modi’s tough stance against Pakistan, which saw aerial clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours following an attack in February that killed 40 paramilitary police in occupied Kashmir.

Source: Pakistan Today April 11, 2019 05:37 UTC