Bilawal alleges rigging in AJK polls

Says polls body failed to act on party's complaints from first phase

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari alleged irregularities during the second phase of the AJK elections, saying the Election Commission had failed to act on the party's complaints from the first phase.

In a post on X, Bilawal said that despite what he described as an admission by the "rigging party", the Election Commission had not taken action on the PPP's earlier complaints.

"Had they done so, the credibility of today's phase-2 election would have been restored," he said.

The PPP chairman said his party reserved the right to protest and demand re-election in constituencies where, he alleged, rigging had taken place and the Election Commission had failed to act.

Separately, PPP chairman also condemned an alleged attack on PPP MNA Salahuddin Junejo in constituency LA-31 Khaoreh of AJK, which he said was the constituency of Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar.

He demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible, saying the incident was "extremely alarming".

He accused that the individuals affiliated with the PML-N who had allegedly occupied a polling station in Mustafa Abad, came outside and opened fire on PPP workers. He alleged that party workers sought police assistance but did not receive help. He also accused the PML-N of resorting to "despicable tactics", claiming that the party could not win elections on merit.

Meanwhile, senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the people of Mirpur had expressed confidence in the PML-N by voting for the party's election symbol, the lion. She added that similar enthusiasm had been witnessed in Muzaffarabad and Punjab, expressing confidence that the party would also secure victory there.

Marriyum said the large turnout at the PML-N's polling camps reflected the party's anticipated victory.