Raja Pervaiz Ashraf Questions Transparency of AJK Elections, Alleges Irregularities

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure that elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are conducted freely, fairly, and transparently, warning that a poll marred by alleged rigging would not be accepted.

Addressing a press conference, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf alleged that PPP candidates who had won seats in the Mirpur Division were deprived of victory through electoral manipulation. He also referred to the attack on PPP AJK President Chaudhry Latif Akbar in his constituency and claimed that a PPP worker was killed in Nikyal during the election process. He further alleged that the overall conduct of the AJK elections appeared to be predetermined.

The senior PPP leader said his party had submitted evidence of alleged rigging to the Election Commission but claimed no corrective action had been taken. He questioned reports that polling materials had failed to reach certain stations, arguing that election materials are normally delivered a day in advance. Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also alleged that PPP supporters were denied their right to vote and criticized PML-N leaders for, in his view, downplaying allegations of vote theft. These allegations have been denied by the PML-N, which maintains that the electoral process was conducted fairly.