Rathore's LA-17 Haveli victory challenged

PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz has formally contested the election outcome in Azad Jammu and Kashmir's LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta constituency, accusing officials of tampering with Form-24 and calling for a vote recount. The Election Commission of AJK has acknowledged his request for a hearing and scheduled a meeting for today at 10am in Muzaffarabad, where he will confront both the PPP's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and the District Returning Officer.

Aziz contends that his defeat was fabricated, and he has compiled evidence from polling station presiding officers asserting his 8,600-vote victory. He has not received a recount request approval from the returning officer, alleging bias. Aziz further asserts that the prime minister actively canvassed votes on election day while armed individuals allegedly harassed voters.

He claims his rival's camp accepted defeat, prompting the alleged manipulation in Form-24. The District Returning Officer issued Form-27 declaring Faisal Rathore the victor and Aziz the runner-up. Form-27 records 33,872 votes for Rathore, 32,354 for Aziz, and 12,538 for independent candidate Tariq Saeed. AJKEC's decision to hear Aziz's petition has now propelled the contentious result through a formal electoral process, with the August 13 hearing to decide the subsequent steps.

Post-election tensions flared when vehicles parked outside Zahid Hashmi's residence in Hoter village were vandalized, and his visitors reportedly had passports and cash stolen. Alleged attackers, linked to PML-N and an independent candidate, smashed windows of several vehicles belonging to Saudi Arabian voters.