Rana Sanaullah Says Second Phase of AJK Elections Concluded Peacefully, Rejects Rigging Allegations

Federal Minister and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections concluded on Sunday, adding that polling in the Muzaffarabad Division had been extended by one hour to facilitate voters. He said the voting process ended peacefully and ballot counting had begun.

Addressing a press conference, Rana Sanaullah said the people of AJK participated enthusiastically in the democratic process. He criticized a political party for alleging rigging as early as 10:30 a.m. on polling day, saying such claims were made before the electoral process had been completed. He acknowledged that three incidents occurred during polling but maintained that the overall election remained peaceful.

The minister claimed that the attack on PPP leader Chaudhry Latif Akbar stemmed from a personal dispute rather than election-related violence. He also asserted that Mushtaq Ahmad was not a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) worker and noted that the PPP’s formal position was that alleged rigging had occurred in only two constituencies of the Mirpur Division. His remarks represent the government’s position on the allegations, which the PPP disputes.