admin The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party has placed itself in a comfortable position to form the next government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with its massive victory in the second phase of general elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly.
It left its main challenger, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), trailing far behind, hurling rigging allegations. However, the PML-N retorted that as the PPP has its nominee as the prime minister and its representative as the acting president of AJK, it can’t accuse others of any manipulation.
The PML-N bagged 14 seats while the PPP clinched five seats in the election for the Muzaffarabad division and refugees in Pakistan. Polling was to be held for a total of 21 seats, but it was postponed in two constituencies for different reasons. Of the 12 refugee seats, the PML-N won ten while the PPP got two.
In the first phase of polls held on July 27, the PML-N had secured nine seats while the PPP had got four seats. Polling had been held across the Mirpur division.
PM SHAHBAZ CONGRATULATES SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has congratulated former PM and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and successful candidates over the party’s lead in the second phase of AJK elections.
According to a statement issued by the PM’s Office, Shahbaz extended his heartfelt congratulations to all winning PML-N candidates and said the continuation of the party’s success was the result of the hard work and efforts of Nawaz Sharif and the entire party team.
A woman votes during the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections at a polling station in Muzaffarabad. Reuters
Shahbaz said that under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, PML-N conducted an effective and successful election campaign in Azad Kashmir, adding that the election results reflected the confidence of the people of AJK in the party’s policies.
Polling was originally scheduled in nine territorial constituencies — five in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts — besides all 12 refugee constituencies.
However, the Election Commission deferred polling in LA-27, Muzaffarabad-I (Kutla) until Tuesday after polling staff and election material could not reach the constituency because of landslides and bad weather that blocked the Neelum Valley road and its link roads. Polling at 71 of the 174 polling stations in LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II (Lachhrat) was also postponed until Tuesday for the same reason.
A policeman stands guard as women voters wait to cast their ballots at a polling station in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. AFP
Voting in the remaining polling stations of the constituency was held as scheduled on Sunday. However, due to a delay in the arrival of polling staff and election material, polling was affected at several locations. Consequently, the Election Commission extended polling by one hour in the territorial constituencies, while polling in the refugee constituencies ended at the scheduled time of 5pm.
RIGGING ALLEGATIONS
In parts of Muzaffarabad city, attempts were made to disrupt polling in some neighbourhoods, but voting continued in most areas. In LA-31, Muzaffarabad-V (Khawra), clashes between workers of the PML-N and PPP were reported in the Union Council Katkair.
The PPP alleged that one of its workers, Syed Mushtaq Shah, was killed in an attack by PML-N supporters. The PML-N rejected the allegation, claiming the man suffered a cardiac arrest following a scuffle between two groups. There was no independent confirmation of either claim.
PPP candidate and Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar also wrote to the AJK chief election commissioner, alleging security lapses, firing incidents, interference in polling, prevention of polling agents from entering polling stations and denial of voting rights. He also claimed there had been an attempt on his life in which Advocate Syed Mumtaz Hussain Naqvi was injured, and called for an investigation and legal action against those responsible. There was no immediate response from the Election Commission.
