MUZAFFARABAD (Web Desk) – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of benefiting from alleged electoral manipulation in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, calling for a judicial inquiry into reported polling-day incidents.
Addressing a PPP workers' convention in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal thanked voters in Mirpur for supporting his party and said the PPP had secured a majority of votes in several constituencies. He said it was now the party's responsibility to safeguard the public mandate.
According to unofficial and provisional results from the first phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, the PML-N won nine of the 13 constituencies in Mirpur, while the PPP secured four seats.
Questioning the fairness of the electoral process, Bilawal said the results did not reflect the public's expectations in certain constituencies. Referring to PPP leader Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, he questioned how the senior politician could lose in his own village despite enjoying strong local support.
Bilawal alleged that incidents at polling stations had undermined the election process, claiming attacks were reported at around 30 polling stations despite security arrangements. He argued that if isolated incidents had occurred, they might have been understandable, but the scale of the reported disturbances raised serious questions.
The PPP chairman further alleged that conducting the elections in phases had created opportunities for electoral manipulation. He claimed the incidents were aimed at influencing the outcome of the polls, although election authorities have not officially confirmed such allegations.
Criticising the federal government's approach, Bilawal said national institutions should prioritise Pakistan's national interest over the interests of any political party. He also expressed concern over internet shutdowns during the election period, saying such measures created an undesirable impression regarding democratic practices in Azad Kashmir.
Bilawal said allegations of election irregularities were not new and argued that political issues in Azad Kashmir should be resolved through constitutional and democratic means. Referring to previous unrest in the region, he said political dialogue could have prevented violence and loss of life.
Calling for free, fair and transparent elections, Bilawal demanded the establishment of an independent inquiry commission to investigate the reported incidents during the polling process.
He also criticised what he described as a boycott campaign and alleged that political opponents had misled their own leadership. Urging voters to participate in the democratic process, Bilawal encouraged people to cast their ballots regardless of political affiliation.
The PPP chairman pledged to protect what he described as the party's electoral mandate and vowed that the upcoming elections in Muzaffarabad on August 2 would be conducted without allowing any attempt to influence the public's vote.
Bilawal said the PPP remained committed to peaceful and constitutional politics but warned that attacks on party workers or polling stations were unacceptable.