The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has accused authorities of serious electoral irregularities in the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections and urged the Election Commission to withhold the announcement of results until an investigation is completed.
Following the first phase of polling in Mirpur Division, the party alleged widespread irregularities and formally requested the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to suspend the release of election results.
A PPP delegation, comprising senior leaders Nayyar Bukhari and Qamar Zaman Kaira, met the Chief Election Commissioner in Muzaffarabad and demanded that the results be withheld until the Returning Officer’s inquiry report is finalized.
Speaking after the meeting, Nayyar Bukhari claimed the PPP had secured a majority during the election process and was leading in seven constituencies. He alleged that unrest during polling in Kotli affected the outcome of the election.
Bukhari also alleged serious irregularities during the voting process, claiming that PPP polling agents were forcibly removed from polling stations in one constituency. He said the party had submitted a written complaint to the Election Commission regarding the incident.
Qamar Zaman Kaira said the PPP had taken the first constitutional step to ensure the electoral process was completed transparently and had chosen to seek institutional remedies before launching any protest.
He further argued that the Election Commission should have withheld the release of unofficial results in the affected constituencies, saying such a move would not have disrupted the electoral process in other districts.
The Election Commission has not yet publicly responded to the PPP’s allegations.
