Ruling allies spar over ‘rigging’ in AJK elections
• PPP says it will accept only transparent poll results • Nadeem Afzal Chan accuses PML-N of using state resources • Urges greater focus on Balochistan, Sindh ISLAMABAD: A war of words between ruling coalition partners Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz intensified on Sunday over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, as the PML-N claimed victory while the PPP questioned the…
The ruling coalition partners Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are engaged in a heated dispute over the transparency of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The PML-N claims victory in the polls, while the PPP contests their legitimacy, alleging interference and manipulation.
Nadeem Afzal Chan, spokesperson for the PPP, stated that his party would only accept results from genuinely free and fair elections. He criticized the PML-N for celebrating the results, claiming that the polls had been marred by local controversies and interference. Mr Chan pointed to questions over the process, which he said was conducted in multiple phases across AJK, potentially allowing for manipulation.
He accused the PML-N leadership of celebrating results despite opposition complaints, a boycott by a major political party, and concerns about law and order during polling. The PPP had previously raised concerns about the alleged use of federal machinery and government resources during different phases of the elections.
Mr Chan urged PML-N President Nawaz Sharif to seek the views of people across AJK. He alleged that the results had been prepared "according to choice," similar to what had happened in Punjab. While acknowledging Maryam Nawaz's work as Punjab chief minister, Mr Chan criticized the PML-N's political and governance record rather than individuals.
He noted that the PML-N had been in power for much of the period since 1985, with some PML-N politicians joining the PML-Q during the Musharraf era. Mr Chan acknowledged weaknesses in the PPP's communication strategy but challenged the PML-N to compare its record with the PPP's on various fronts, including privatisation, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and political victimisation. He argued that the PPP had representation from smaller provinces and questioned the PML-N's record in Sindh and Balochistan.
Mr Chan emphasized that Pakistan is not just Lahore, urging the PML-N leadership to pay greater attention to the two provinces.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
