ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) continued alleging widespread rigging in the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections as polling concluded on Tuesday in two Muzaffarabad division constituencies where voting could not be held on August 2 due to unfavourable weather.
Polling in LA-27 and LA-28 was held from 8am to 5pm, with results started pouring in.
Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sherry Rehman condemned alleged electoral irregularities in Muzaffarabad’s LA-27 constituency and Union Council Bheri, calling for immediate action by the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission. She also alleged that polling staff in LA-27 was found at the house of a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) supporter along with ballot papers.
She said videos related to the alleged rigging had been submitted to election authorities as evidence and urged the AJK Election Commission to initiate immediate administrative and legal action, conduct a transparent investigation and hold those responsible accountable. The PPP leader said that it was highly questionable that the relevant polling staff had continued performing election duties despite ‘clear evidence of irregularities.’ “PMLN was once again attempting to undermine the credibility of the electoral process in the PPP strongholds,” she alleged in a statement. She also demanded that all those responsible for influencing the electoral process be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Sherry Rehman called on the chief election commissioner of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to take immediate notice of the matter, ensure an independent and transparent investigation, and hold all those found responsible for influencing the electoral process accountable in accordance with the law.
Addressing a press conference in Muzaffarabad, PPP AJK President and candidate from LA-31 Khawra, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, said it was “unbelievable” that 56,000 votes had been cast within just a few hours. He said the party had submitted an application to the AJK Election Commission seeking re-polling at 45 polling stations.
Akbar warned that if re-polling was not ordered, the PPP would move the Supreme Court and seek the election declared invalid. He alleged the polls witnessed unprecedented rigging, violence against voters and killings, claiming such incidents had never been seen in previous elections. He further alleged that the rigging was carried out on the instructions of federal ministers and that people were fired upon during polling.
In a related development, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Cell has submitted video evidence to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission alleging bogus voting at Polling Station No92, Forest Mandal, Municipal Committee Pattika, in constituency LA-27 Muzaffarabad-1 (Kotla) and has called for immediate action.
In a complaint filed by PPP candidate Javed Ayub, he claimed that a newly surfaced video footage showed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) workers openly casting fake votes throughout polling day. He alleged Polling Station No92 had been turned into a “factory for fake votes”. Ayub alleged that the presiding officer failed to discharge his responsibilities, at times personally stamping ballot papers and, at other times, leaving the polling station to offer prayers, allegedly allowing PMLN workers to take control of the polling process. He claimed that ballot papers continued to be stamped during his absence. Ayub said he caught individuals allegedly casting fake votes red-handed.
Ayub also claimed video recordings and other evidence were submitted to the Election Commission, but no action was taken and the alleged bogus voting continued. The PPP has urged the Election Commission to examine the video evidence, take immediate notice of the alleged violations of election laws and initiate legal proceedings against those found responsible.
Javed Ayub also lodged a formal complaint with the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission, alleging that women voters were prevented from casting their ballots at women’s polling station PS-103 Battal in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-1, while bogus votes were allegedly cast in their names. He said the women voters were kept waiting outside the polling station and were not allowed to vote.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah rejected the PPP’s allegations, saying a “fake video” related to LA-27 had been circulated as part of a “disinformation campaign”.
Speaking to Geo News, he said no complaints were received regarding polling staff from any polling station. He challenged the PPP to present any evidence it had before the Election Commission, asking whether the party had filed any formal complaint against polling officials to enable the commission to seek an explanation. He also accused the PPP of promoting a rigging narrative from the outset, insisting that allegations should be backed by evidence rather than political claims.
Separately, the AJK Election Commission’s spokesperson said polling in all the constituencies of Poonch Division would be held as scheduled on August 10 and urged voters not to pay attention to rumours. He advised voters to exercise their right to vote according to the announced schedule, adding that the Election Commission would promptly inform the public if any changes became necessary.
