Polling concludes in Mirpur division as scuffles, rigging allegations mar first phase of AJK elections

AI Summary

The first phase of elections in the Mirpur division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was marred by scuffles and allegations of rigging between PPP and PML-N parties. The violence resulted in the death of a PPP worker, raising concerns over electoral security and law enforcement.

Scuffles and rigging allegations marred the first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections as polling concluded in the 13 constituencies of Mirpur division on Monday. Polling began at 8am and concluded at 6pm across all three districts — Bhimber, Mirpur, and Kotli — of the division after a one-hour extension. While minor skirmishes and scuffles between PPP and PML-N workers in Kotli district were reported earlier in the day, the electoral process took a violent turn in the afternoon in LA-9 Kotli-II (Nakyal). In a statement on X, the PPP claimed that party worker Mukhtar Younus “died during incidents of display of arms and public harassment by PML-N candidate Sardar Umair Naeem”. PPP AJK Election Cell Incharge Sardar Abdul Shakoor demanded that all those involved in the incident be immediately arrested, law and order be restored, and the safety of voters’ lives and property be ensured. Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed his grief over the death, saying he received reports that Younus has been killed “in firing by” PML-N’s Naeem. “My worker has been martyred in Mirpur’s Nakyal. Where are the relevant authorities? What is the Election Commission doing?” he asked in a statement. He said a video had emerged two days ago of Naeem and his companions “firing in public”, adding that there would not have been a loss of life if the relevant authorities had taken notice of the video back then. Bilawal noted that Younus had been running an election campaign with party candidate Javed Budhanvi. The PPP chairman alleged last week that a criminal case registered against Budhanvi was politically motivated. Earlier in the day, the electoral process at three polling stations in Kotli and two in Bhimber district was suspended for the rest of the day due to polling-related incidents. Repolling would depend upon if the total number of votes casted impacted the results. The electoral process was also briefly interrupted at some other polling stations following minor scuffles and heated exchanges between supporters of competing political parties. Both the PPP and PML-N — allies in the Centre but face to face in the AJK polls — accused the other of rigging in multiple constituencies of Kotli. In a post on X, the PPP urged the Election Commission to take notice of the PML-N’s alleged “attempts to influence polling” in Union Council Throchi of the LA-12 constituency (Kotli-V), where Yasin is the PPP candidate. Shakoor, the PPP’s election cell head, said that PML-N candidate Raja Riasat Khan allegedly entered “polling stations along with armed men and is trying to influence the polling process” in the constituency where the PPP AJK president is contesting. Shakoor further said that “slow mobile phone service” was creating difficulties in communication for residents, the media and rescue authorities. The PPP urged the Election Commission to ensure security at polling stations and an “independent, just and peaceful electoral environment”. The PPP also accused the PML-N of “interfering in the polling process” in the LA-8 constituency of Kotli. The party alleged in a post on X that the PML-N was trying to interfere in and disrupt the polling process at the Raj Mahal polling station. The PPP demanded that the Election Commission take notice of the matter, ensure fair, transparent and peaceful polling, and take action against those violating the election code of conduct. In Bhimber district’s Samahni tehsil, supporters of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate Ali Shan Soni took away ballot boxes from a polling station, according to Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz. PMLN senior leader Raja Azhar Iqbal said the polling station accounted for more than 500 votes and that they had lodged a written complaint with the district returning officer (DRO). Individuals affiliated with Soni also set fire to a ballot box at another polling station, following which police took 30 people into custody in connection with the incident, the divisional commissioner said. Today (Monday) had been declared a public holiday in all three districts of Mirpur to facilitate polling. Polls in AJK are being held in three phases over security concerns. The second and third phases are scheduled for August 2 and August 10 in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies, and 11 constituencies of Poonch division, respectively. FIR filed against 2 presiding officers in LA-10 Ahead of the voting, the PML-N alleged pre-poll rigging in Kotli’s LA-10 constituency. Rana Sanaullah, who is also the prime minister’s adviser on political affairs, alleged that PPP President in AJK Chaudhry Yasin was involved in election rigging and that presiding officers involved in the act had been apprehended. In an audio clip played on Geo News, he also demanded the AJK government and the AJK prime minister arrest a patwar