Shameem Ahmad Thoker, spokesperson for the banned Jamaat-e-Islami J&K, stated that each panel member has been assigned specific tasks, and there is no confusion within the leadership regarding the ongoing electoral process.
“There is no confusion in the leadership on the ongoing electoral process. Everyone has been given an assignment. They are doing their work in their own way,” Thoker said during a public meeting in Baramulla, north Kashmir.
He strongly condemned the deliberate creation of an atmosphere of fear to keep Jama’at cadre away from the elections.
“There is an atmosphere of fear, but in north Kashmir its intensity is very high. There are many among us who wish to participate but a notion is being spread that once ballot boxes are opened, the electorates who voted in favor of Jamaaat-backed independent candidates will be called by agencies and dealt with sternly. This idea which is being spread is highly condemnable,” he remarked.
Thoker urged Jama’at members to participate in the electoral process without fear, saying, “We are fighting elections both for our people and to ensure the ban is lifted over Jamaat.”
He also highlighted the need for dialogue to resolve issues, stating, “Besides Kashmir, we want all issues pertaining to the day-to-day life of common people to be addressed and resolved. And there is no way other than dialogue. We want every stakeholder to come to the table and resolve issues amicably.”