ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has criticized Al Jazeera’s coverage of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, alleging that the international broadcaster presented a misleading picture of the electoral process through selective reporting.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry described Al Jazeera’s reporting as one-sided, claiming that the channel relied on coverage from a limited number of polling stations in Muzaffarabad and comments from a small group of individuals to portray the elections in a negative light.
The ministry said such reporting did not accurately reflect the overall electoral process and instead appeared aimed at creating controversy around the conduct of the polls.
According to the statement, the reporting risked reinforcing narratives promoted by elements seeking to cast doubt on the credibility of the AJK elections and the public mandate expressed through the democratic process.
The ministry maintained that voters across Azad Kashmir participated actively in the elections and exercised their right to vote in large numbers.
It further stated that the electorate had rejected what it described as politics of disruption and pressure, while reaffirming confidence in democratic institutions and the electoral process.
