PPP calls for suspension of AJK election results

The Pakistan Peoples Party has launched a series of formal complaints and public accusations alleging widespread rigging in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, demanding the suspension of official results pending a full investigation. The allegations center on the July 27 polling in 13 constituencies of the Mirpur division, where provisional results showed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz winning nine seats.

On July 28, a senior PPP delegation met with the Chief Election Commissioner in Muzaffarabad, formally requesting that the commission withhold the announcement of final results until an inquiry by returning officers is completed. The delegation, led by Nayyar Bukhari and Qamar Zaman Kaira, claimed the party held a majority during the election process and was leading in seven constituencies before what they described as disturbances in Kotli affected the outcome. Bukhari alleged that PPP polling agents were forcibly removed from stations in one constituency, a complaint they submitted in writing.

The party escalated its rhetoric on July 29, with Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressing workers in Muzaffarabad. He declared the PPP would not accept the...