The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) intensified its accusations of widespread electoral fraud during the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections. Polling took place on Tuesday in two constituencies of the Muzaffarabad division—LA-27 and LA-28—where voting had been postponed on August 2 due to adverse weather conditions. Polling stations were open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and vote counting is currently underway.
PPP leader Sherry Rehman alleged that election officials in LA-27 were discovered at the residence of a supporter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) along with ballot papers. She stated that videos documenting the purported rigging had been submitted to election authorities as proof. Rehman called on the AJK Election Commission to launch immediate administrative and legal proceedings, conduct a transparent inquiry, and hold those responsible accountable.
She expressed deep concern over the fact that the implicated polling staff continued their duties despite what she described as clear evidence of misconduct. These incidents, she argued, cast serious doubts on the fairness and impartiality of the electoral process as well as the credibility of the institutions overseeing it. Rehman demanded that all individuals involved in manipulating the election be prosecuted under the law.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah dismissed the PPP’s allegations, asserting that a “fake video” related to LA-27 was being circulated as part of a disinformation effort. He emphasized that no complaints about polling staff had been received at any polling station. Challenging the PPP, he urged the party to submit any evidence to the Election Commission and questioned whether any formal complaints had been filed to allow the commission to investigate the matter.
Sanaullah accused the PPP of promoting a rigging narrative from the start and insisted that allegations must be substantiated by evidence rather than political rhetoric. At a press conference in Muzaffarabad, PPP AJK President and LA-31 candidate Khawra Chaudhry Latif Akbar described it as “unbelievable” that 56,000 votes were cast within a few hours. He revealed that the party had formally requested re-polling at 45 polling stations through an application submitted to the AJK Election Commission.
Akbar warned that if re-polling was not ordered, the PPP would approach the Supreme Court to seek invalidation of the election. He alleged unprecedented rigging, voter intimidation, and violence during the polls, including fatalities—claiming such incidents were unprecedented in previous elections. He further charged that the rigging was orchestrated under directives from federal ministers and that voters were fired upon while casting their ballots.
In response, a spokesperson for the Election Commission stated that polling in all constituencies of Poonch Division is scheduled for August 10 as planned. The spokesperson urged voters to disregard rumors and exercise their right to vote on the announced date. They assured the public that the commission would promptly notify voters if any changes to the schedule became necessary.
