AJK Polling Concludes as PPP Raises Rigging Allegations, Bilawal Condemns Killing of Party Worker

Polling for the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections concluded on Sunday, with voting extended by one hour until 6pm in nine constituencies of the Muzaffarabad Division due to a high voter turnout. The AJK Election Commission said the extension was aimed at allowing all eligible voters to cast their ballots. Voting also took place in all 12 refugee constituencies, where a total of 137 candidates were in the race.

The electoral contest covered nine constituencies in the Muzaffarabad Division five in Muzaffarabad district, two in Jhelum Valley and two in Neelum with 207 candidates competing. The third and final phase of the AJK elections is scheduled to be held in the Poonch Division on August 10. In the first phase of polling, held in Mirpur Division, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured nine of the 13 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won four.

During polling, the PPP lodged multiple complaints with the AJK Election Commission, alleging electoral irregularities, including ballot paper stamping by PML-N workers, delayed arrival of polling staff, removal of PPP polling agents and interference at polling stations. Senior PPP leaders, including Nadeem Afzal Chan and Qamar Zaman Kaira, claimed the party had submitted more than 15 complaints and alleged that the transparency of the electoral process had been compromised.

PML-N leaders rejected the allegations, insisting that polling remained peaceful and transparent. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari dismissed the PPP’s claims of rigging, while Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam urged political parties to accept the public mandate instead of making accusations. He said the PML-N’s performance in the first phase reflected voter confidence rather than electoral manipulation.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari strongly condemned the killing of party worker Mushtaq Shah in LA-31 and expressed condolences to his family. He said the earlier attack on PPP AJK President Chaudhry Latif Akbar, followed by Mushtaq Shah’s killing, exposed what he described as the PML-N’s intentions. Bilawal alleged that any victory achieved through rigging would undermine public confidence in state institutions and accused the ruling party of attempting to deprive the people of AJK of their democratic right to vote through intimidation and force.

The allegations have further intensified political tensions surrounding the AJK elections, with the PPP demanding investigations into the reported incidents and strict action against those responsible. The PML-N has categorically denied all accusations, leaving the Election Commission under pressure to address complaints as the electoral process moves toward its final phase.