Muzaffarabad – The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) surged ahead in the initial unofficial results as counting of votes got underway after the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections concluded on Sunday, although the polling process was overshadowed by allegations of rigging, sporadic violence and administrative irregularities.
Polling was held in eight of the nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad Division and all 12 refugee constituencies spread across Pakistan. Voting began at 8:00am and continued until 6:00pm in Muzaffarabad Division after the Election Commission extended polling by one hour because of the large number of voters at polling stations. Polling in the refugee constituencies concluded at 5:00pm.
As ballot boxes began arriving at returning officers’ offices, unofficial results showed PML-N candidates leading in a number of constituencies, prompting party workers to celebrate outside polling stations and party camps even before official results were announced. Although the Election Commission had not released consolidated results by late Sunday night, the early trends indicated a strong performance by the PML-N in both Muzaffarabad Division and several refugee constituencies.
According unconfirmed and unofficial results PML-N was leading or secured victory from five constituencies in Muzaffarabad Division (LA-26, 28, 30, 31 and 32 while PPP was ahead or secured victory on two Muzaffarabad Division seats (LA29, 33) while polling postponed on LA-27 seat.
Similarly, as per unofficial and unconfirmed results, PML-N was leading or secured victory on eight Refugee Constituencies including LA-34, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42 and 43 while PPP was ahead or secured victory on LA-37 and LA-41 refugee seats.
Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the people had once again reposed confidence in the PML-N by voting for the party’s election symbol, the lion. Referring to the first phase of the elections in Mirpur Division, she said the party had already received overwhelming public support there and expressed confidence that Muzaffarabad would deliver a similar verdict.
She said heavy voter turnout at PML-N polling camps throughout the day reflected public confidence in the party and showed that it was on course for victory. Aurangzeb also congratulated party workers on the early leads and said the PML-N was now preparing for the third and final phase of polling in Poonch Division on August 10.
PML-N leader Barrister Daniyal Chaudhry said Kashmiris had voted for the vision and leadership of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, adding that the enthusiastic response at the party’s election camps clearly reflected public support for the PML-N.
Despite the encouraging trends for the PML-N, the Election Commission stressed that all results remained unofficial until the completion of vote consolidation and the formal announcement of constituency-wise outcomes.
The electoral process could not be completed everywhere. Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal announced that polling in LA-27 (Muzaffarabad-I) had been postponed because of heavy rain. In addition, polling at 50 polling stations in LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II (Lachharrat) was deferred until August 4 after landslides and blocked roads prevented polling staff and election material from reaching the affected areas.
More than 350 candidates contested the second phase, including 208 candidates for nine general seats in Muzaffarabad Division and 143 candidates for the 12 refugee constituencies. Around 809,621 registered voters were eligible to cast their ballots in Muzaffarabad Division, while over 1,483 polling stations were established under strict security arrangements.
The day, however, was dominated by accusations exchanged between coalition partners at the Centre—the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The PPP alleged widespread electoral malpractice, claiming its polling agents were denied entry to several polling stations, bogus votes were cast using photocopied and expired identity cards, ballot papers were stuffed and state machinery was used to favour the PML-N. The party submitted 25 complaints covering 11 constituencies to the Election Commission and demanded immediate intervention.
Tensions also flared in LA-9 Kotli-II (Nikyal), where one person was killed and two others injured during polling. The PPP claimed its worker Mukhtar Younus was shot by supporters of a PML-N candidate, while the PML-N rejected the allegation, maintaining that the deceased died of a heart attack following a scuffle and that no firing had taken place.
The PPP further alleged an assassination attempt on Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, while party leaders claimed several workers had been injured in separate incidents. AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore ordered an inquiry into the alleged attack.
The PML-N dismissed the PPP’s allegations as baseless. Marriyum Aurangzeb said elections were won through public support, performance and ballots rather than accusations of rigging. She urged political parties to seek legal remedies through election tribunals instead of holding press conferences and criticised the PPP for questioning the electoral process before the results had been officially announced.
Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah also defended the conduct of the polls, describing them as peaceful, transparent and largely free of violence. He said polling had been completed at 96 per cent of stations and only isolated incidents had occurred.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission suspended and arrested two presiding officers in LA-10 Kotli after election material was allegedly found at a private residence instead of the designated polling station. New officials were appointed and legal proceedings initiated under election laws.
The AJK Election Commission maintained that strict action would be taken against anyone violating election rules and reiterated that it would not come under pressure from any political party.
The AJK elections are being held in three phases because of security considerations. The first phase was conducted in Mirpur Division on July 27, the second phase concluded on Sunday in Muzaffarabad Division and the refugee constituencies, while the third and final phase in Poonch Division is scheduled for August 10. Official constituency-wise results are expected after completion of the counting and consolidation process.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari yesterday alleged widespread electoral irregularities, violence and administrative failures during the ongoing Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.
He accused the Election Commission of failing to address complaints from the first phase of polling and warning that the party reserved the right to protest and seek re-elections in constituencies where the public mandate had allegedly been compromised.
In a series of posts on X, Bilawal said the Election Commission’s failure to act on complaints submitted after the first phase had undermined confidence in the electoral process.
“Despite this admission from the rigging party, the Election Commission has still failed to take action on our complaints from phase one,” he said. “Had timely action been taken, the credibility of today’s second-phase elections could have been restored.”
The PPP chairman said his party had repeatedly approached the Election Commission with documented complaints regarding alleged electoral violations but had yet to receive a satisfactory response.
He said the PPP reserved the constitutional and democratic right to stage protests and demand fresh elections in constituencies where, according to the party, rigging had taken place and the Election Commission had failed to fulfil its legal responsibilities.
Bilawal claimed that during the ongoing second phase of polling, the PPP had already submitted multiple written complaints alleging ballot stuffing and the unlawful removal of the party’s polling agents from polling stations.
Expressing hope that the Election Commission would intervene without delay, he urged the electoral watchdog to act swiftly on the complaints and ensure fairness during the remainder of the electoral process.
“The Election Commission must immediately discharge its constitutional obligations and ensure that the integrity of the electoral process is protected,” he said.
The PPP chairman also strongly condemned what he described as politically motivated violence during polling, alleging that senior party leaders and workers had come under attack in Azad Kashmir.
Bilawal condemned the attack on Chaudhry Latif Akbar, President of the PPP Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter, describing him as “a symbol of dignified and principled politics.” He alleged that the attack had been carried out by what he termed extremist elements associated with the Pakistan Muslim League .
He further claimed that PPP worker Mushtaq Shah was killed in the same constituency, LA-31, following the attack on Chaudhry Latif Akbar.
Bilawal alleged that violence, intimidation and coercion were being used to influence the electoral outcome in Azad Kashmir, accusing political opponents of attempting to deprive voters of their democratic right through force.
Calling for immediate legal action, he demanded the arrest of those responsible for the attack on Chaudhry Latif Akbar as well as the alleged killers of PPP worker Mushtaq Shah.
In a separate statement, the PPP chairman also condemned an alleged attack on PPP National Assembly member Salahuddin Junejo in LA-31 Khaoreh constituency.
Bilawal claimed that armed individuals affiliated with the PML-N, who had allegedly occupied a polling station in Mustafa Abad, emerged from outside the premises and opened fire on PPP workers.
According to the PPP chief, party workers repeatedly sought police assistance during the incident but received no response.
Describing the situation as deeply alarming, Bilawal alleged that such incidents reflected an attempt to influence the electoral process through violence rather than democratic competition.
He maintained that free, transparent and peaceful elections were essential for preserving public confidence in democratic institutions and urged the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of voters, polling staff, candidates and political workers.
The PPP chairman reiterated that the party remained committed to protecting the sanctity of the public mandate and would continue to pursue all constitutional, legal and democratic avenues to challenge any alleged irregularities in the electoral process.
He called on the Election Commission and law enforcement agencies to immediately investigate the reported incidents of violence, ensure accountability for those responsible and guarantee that every vote cast in the Azad Kashmir elections was counted freely, fairly and without intimidation.
PPP warns patty will not accept ‘rigged’ AJK polls
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) yesterday alleged widespread rigging, administrative mismanagement and voter intimidation in the ongoing Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.
The party claimed the electoral process was being deliberately made controversial in constituencies where the party enjoys strong public support.
Speaking at a news conference, PPP Central Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan said the party had received more than 15 formal complaints regarding alleged irregularities during polling and warned that the PPP would not accept any electoral process marred by coercion or manipulation.
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy and constitutional supremacy, Chan said the PPP believed in resolving political disputes through the ballot box and would continue to defend the sanctity of the public mandate.
He stressed, however, that the party would resist any attempt to influence election results through administrative interference or alleged rigging.
He claimed that serious administrative lapses had been reported from several constituencies. According to Chan, election staff and polling materials were not delivered on time at multiple polling stations in LA-27, resulting in delays in voting, while polling in LA-28 was allegedly postponed on what he described as unnecessary grounds.
He maintained that both constituencies have traditionally been PPP strongholds and alleged that disruptions were intended to suppress the party’s electoral support.
The PPP leader said the party had already submitted what he described as evidence of rigging in four constituencies during the first phase of the AJK elections and had formally demanded re-polling in those seats. He regretted that, according to the party, no satisfactory response had yet been received from the authorities.
Questioning the credibility of the electoral exercise, Chan claimed voter turnout during the first phase remained below 26 percent, which, he argued, reflected declining public confidence in the election process. He also criticised the phased polling arrangement, alleging it had failed to improve transparency and instead created opportunities to influence electoral outcomes.
He alleged that the elections had fallen short of accepted standards of transparency and fairness, claiming the public mandate was being undermined through administrative manipulation.
Chan said the law and order situation in Muzaffarabad had remained stable until recently and noted that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s election campaign had drawn large crowds, demonstrating what he described as strong public backing for the party.
Chan also expressed concern over reports of an alleged attack on senior PPP leader Chaudhry Latif Akbar, saying the incident had heightened tensions and created uncertainty among voters.
He described Akbar as a committed ideological worker who had consistently served the party and claimed the electorate had already expressed confidence in his leadership.
The PPP spokesperson further alleged that complaints had also been received from Sargodha, Sialkot and Mandi Bahauddin, where voters reportedly faced delays in receiving ballot papers, while attempts were allegedly made at some polling stations to intimidate voters.
He said that reports of missing ballot papers had emerged from Pakpattan and that delays in the delivery of election materials had disrupted polling operations, raising fresh concerns over the transparency and impartiality of the process.
Chan disclosed that some voices within the PPP had proposed boycotting the second phase of the elections. However, he said, the party’s central leadership rejected the proposal in order to safeguard democratic values and preserve the credibility of the electoral process.
He said the PPP had consistently supported government efforts aimed at ensuring peaceful and transparent elections and noted that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari personally led the party’s election campaign to encourage democratic participation.
Chan said the enthusiastic public response to Bilawal’s rallies reflected widespread support for democratic principles in Azad Kashmir.
Calling on the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities, Chan urged the electoral watchdog to immediately investigate the complaints submitted by the PPP and take legal action against those found responsible for any violations.
He said the party had formally submitted documentary evidence of alleged irregularities and expected prompt action.
He also referred to what he described as administrative errors in Mirpur, saying such shortcomings should not be repeated in Muzaffarabad.
In one constituency, he contended, even the candidate’s name had been printed incorrectly on the ballot paper, describing the mistake as another serious lapse that cast doubt on the election management process.
Chan said the PPP was contesting the elections not merely to secure political office but to strengthen democratic institutions and promote lasting peace in Kashmir through a credible electoral process. Given the international attention on the AJK elections, he said, transparency and fairness were essential to maintaining the credibility of the democratic exercise.
Questioning the pattern of reported irregularities, Chan alleged that complaints were predominantly emerging from constituencies where the PPP enjoyed significant political support, suggesting that a deliberate effort was being made to influence the electoral outcome.
The PPP leader said the party had no intention of resorting to agitation or protest politics but warned that it would firmly oppose any attempt to manipulate the public mandate.
He alleged that an “Ultra Form 47” model of election manipulation was being replicated in Azad Kashmir through administrative interference and reiterated that the PPP would reject any election outcome that, in its view, lacked transparency and fairness.
