3rd phase of AJK elections: PM Rathore trails PML-N rival in unofficial results

AI Summary

The third phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections saw significant upsets including the sitting prime minister Rathore trailing behind rivals amid allegations of rigging and violence. Polling was marred by disruptions and some stations had to be canceled due to political unrest.

The sitting Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, and both his predecessors lost to their rivals in three of the four constituencies in Poonch division that went to the polls on Monday, in an election marred by allegations of rigging and violence, as well as disruptions and suspension of polling at some places. The biggest upset was the defeat of Muslim Conference president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in LA-14 (Dhirkot), a constituency from where he, and before him his uncle and father, had been elected in all nine elections since 1985. His defeat also appeared to underscore the political decline of what was once the largest and longest-ruling party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), but was reduced to a marginal force following the emergence of the PML-N in 2010. Khan was defeated by Sajid Iqbal Abbasi, who contested his first election on the ticket of the little-known Awami Dast-o-Bazu Party, by a margin of more than 20,000 votes, according to unofficial and unverified results from 211 of 214 polling stations. Observers attributed Abbasi’s victory largely to his hands-on efforts for the development of the constituency and the welfare of its residents, which, they said, had helped him build a personal support base over the years. In another closely watched contest in LA-17 (Haveli), Prime Minister Rathore appeared set to lose to PML-N candidate Engr Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz, as unofficial and unverified results from 171 of the 190 polling stations showed the latter leading by more than 9,000 votes. Independent candidate Khawaja Tariq Saeed was trailing far behind. In LA-15 (Bagh Central), Jamaat-i-Islami’s Brig (retd) Dr Mohammad Khan was initially reported to be heading for victory, but subsequent results showed the contest narrowing between PML-N’s Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas and PPP’s Sardar Ziaul Qamar. Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) president and former AJK prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who had won the constituency in the 2021 election on a PTI ticket, appeared to be out of the race. In LA-16 (Bagh East), PML-N’s Sardar Mir Akbar was leading PPP’s Sardar Qamaruz Zaman, who had served as an AJK minister in several PPP governments and is the father of Mr Ziaul Qamar. Polling at some stations in the constituency had to be cancelled following violence involving political activists. Elections are being held across AJK in phases amid tensions between protesters and the authorities. Citing law and order concerns, the Election Commission had decided to postpone polling in Bagh and Sudhnoti districts that was originally set for today. Polling began at 8am and continued until 5pm in four Poonch constituencies. The PPP, which has accused the PML-N of rigging in the previous phases, continued to make similar allegations on Monday as well. In response, PML-N leaders said the PPP had no evidence for its claims, and reiterated their confidence to form the government in AJK based on the seats it has already secured so far. The PML-N has so far bagged 24 seats — nine from Mirpur polls held on July 27 and 15 in the second phase comprising Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee seats. On the other hand, the PPP has only won 10 constituencies so far. The third phase of the AJK elections was originally meant to cover all of Poonch Division. The division comprises 11 constituencies, including three in Bagh, one in Haveli, five in Poonch district and two in Sudhnoti district. However, last week the AJK Election Commission announced that polling would only go ahead as scheduled in Bagh and Haveli due to concerns over the law and order situation. The AJK election commissioner has hinted that polling on the remaining seven constituencies could be held by Aug 20 or 21. Government officials had anticipated clashes in some areas today, while the Election Commission had classified most of the 803 polling stations in the four constituencies as either sensitive or highly sensitive. “Apart from the regular police of both districts, we have dispatched an additional 10,300 troops to maintain law and order and provide a fear-free atmosphere to voters,” Election Commission Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel told Dawn earlier Malpractice, rigging allegations Polling in previous phases of the elections was marred by allegations of rigging, scuffles and violence, with the PPP and the PML-N — the main contenders in AJK but allies in the Centre — engaging in a war of words. The PPP has accused the PML-N of rigging and electoral malpractices in the previous phases. It continued to allege rigging in Haveli and Bagh as well. In a series of posts on X, the PPP shared complaints it said it had filed to the Election Commission. In one of the complaints, the PPP alleged that roads leading to the Banni Marasira area had been blocked, where PML-N supporters were illegally stamping ballot papers at 12 polling stations in the LA-15 constituency. “The commission is requested to consider the two acts together rather than separately,