Bilawal alleged that “miscreant elements of the PML‑N” were behind the incident, claiming that PPP worker Mushtaq Shah was killed; PML‑N leadership rejected the allegations, maintaining that polling proceeded peacefully
Bureau Report
MUZAFFARABAD: The second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections witnessed heightened political tension on Sunday as polling continued across eight of the nine constituencies of the Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies. The AJK Election Commission extended polling hours by one hour, allowing voting to continue until 6 p.m. instead of the scheduled 5 p.m., citing delays caused by weather and logistical challenges.
Polling in LA‑27 (Muzaffarabad‑I) was postponed due to heavy rain, AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal confirmed. Over 300 candidates are contesting for seats in Muzaffarabad and the 12 constituencies reserved for refugees settled in various regions of Pakistan.
The day’s developments were marked by allegations and sporadic incidents of violence. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) accused the Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz (PML‑N) of creating hurdles during the election process and “robbing” votes through intimidation. PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto‑Zardari, in a post on X, condemned what he described as an “attack” on the party’s regional president Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who is also contesting from LA‑31 (Muzaffarabad‑V).
Bilawal alleged that “miscreant elements of the PML‑N” were behind the incident, claiming that PPP worker Mushtaq Shah was killed in the same constituency. “The PML‑N is robbing the votes of the people of Azad Kashmir through bullets, batons and coercion,” he said, demanding immediate arrests of those responsible for the attack and the killing.
In a separate statement, Bilawal said the PML‑N had “crossed all limits,” asserting that attacks were taking place on PPP voters and leaders. He described the contest in Muzaffarabad as “a struggle between the PPP’s politics of dignity and principles and the PML‑N’s threat, rigging and coercion.”
The PPP also submitted a formal complaint to the AJK Election Commission regarding the alleged assault on Akbar, naming three individuals and requesting an inquiry into what it termed a “security lapse.” The party said a first information report (FIR) was being registered.AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, who belongs to the PPP, took notice of the incident and directed the chief secretary and police chief to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.
Meanwhile, the PML‑N leadership rejected the allegations, maintaining that polling proceeded peacefully in most constituencies. Party representatives said isolated incidents were being exaggerated for political gain.
Voting also continued for the 12 refugee seats — seven in Punjab and five distributed among other provinces. Despite intermittent rain and scattered reports of disruptions, turnout remained steady in several areas.
The AJK Election Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring transparency and security throughout the process. Official results will be announced after counting concludes later tonight.
Disclaimer: Election results and claims mentioned are based on early reports. Readers are advised to verify updates from the AJK Election Commission and credible news sources.
