- “Historic rigging” carried out in AJK polls, say PPP leader.
- Says PML-N rigged polls with Election Commission’s support.
- PML-N wins 23 of 45 seats so far, as per preliminary results.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of rigging and stealing the mandate of Kashmiris and his party after the latter claimed to have secured a simple majority to form the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Memon’s remarks came after a joint press conference by Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, during which they claimed victory in 14 seats in the second phase of the AJK elections, including four of the seven seats in Muzaffarabad. According to Sanaullah, the PML-N also won 10 of the 12 refugee seats.
PPP, however, bagged five seats in the second phase of the AJK polls.
According to the unofficial results, PML-N emerged victorious in nine constituencies while PPP secured four seats in the first phase of the AJK polls in Mirpur.
The PML-N has won 23 of the 45 seats so far, while the PPP has won nine seats, according to preliminary results.
Blasting the PML-N leadership, whose PPP is an ally in the Centre, Memon warned: “The countdown begins for the federal government.”
“PML-N, in collaboration with the Election Commission, had given ballot papers to its candidates 2 days ago,” alleges the PPP leader.
Memon further alleged that the administration was not even listening to the complaints of the current president and prime minister of the AJK.
“Historic rigging was carried out in the AJK poll,” he alleged.
Referring to the 2024 “rigged” elections, the PPP leader questioned whether PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had won their seats.
PML-N ‘secures’ simple majority
Earlier in the day, PM’s aide Sanaullah claimed the PML-N secured a simple majority to form the government in the AJK after winning 23 of the 45 seats.
The PML-N leader made the remarks while addressing a joint press conference alongside Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam in Islamabad.
He said that polling in LA-27 was postponed due to adverse weather, while voting would be held on Tuesday at 54 polling stations in LA-27 and LA-28.
The PML-N’s parliamentary party would meet immediately after the third phase of elections on August 10 to discuss government formation, he added.
The second phase of the AJK elections was held in the Muzaffarabad division on Sunday, with the PML-N emerging as the frontrunner by securing 14 of the 18 constituencies declared so far, according to unofficial and provisional results.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led PPP stands second, having won five seats in the second phase of the AJK elections.
The elections, however, were overshadowed by allegations of electoral irregularities and incidents of violence, with the PPP claiming its leaders were attacked and at least one party worker was killed.
