GARHI DUPATTA (Web Desk) – Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has rejected the results of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, alleging widespread electoral irregularities and demanding a re-poll in a disputed constituency.
Addressing a workers’ convention in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal questioned the outcome in the constituency contested by senior PPP leader Chaudhry Yasin, claiming the party could not accept what he described as a “stolen mandate.”
“We cannot accept the results in Chaudhry Yasin’s constituency when there is evidence of electoral fraud,” Bilawal said.
The PPP chairman alleged that around 30 polling stations had been unlawfully occupied and ballot papers stamped in favour of rival candidates. He claimed the party possessed video evidence supporting its allegations and questioned the reported 90 per cent voter turnout at those polling stations.
Bilawal demanded that the Election Commission order re-polling in the disputed constituency to ensure transparency and restore public confidence in the electoral process.
He also accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of benefiting from electoral manipulation, saying the PPP was contesting against a political party that had a history of election rigging.
“I am prepared to accept defeat in a fair political contest, but I will not accept results obtained through electoral theft,” he told party workers.
Calling for an impartial investigation, Bilawal proposed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to examine allegations of irregularities and determine the facts surrounding the election.
He said the commission should ensure accountability and make it clear whether the complaints of electoral manipulation were justified.
The PPP chairman vowed that his party would not allow the votes of the Kashmiri people to be undermined and pledged to pursue all legal and constitutional avenues to reclaim what he described as “stolen seats.”
“I assure the people of Kashmir that every seat taken unfairly from us will be recovered through democratic and legal means,” he said.
Bilawal reiterated his commitment to securing greater rights for the people of Azad Kashmir, saying his political struggle would remain peaceful and democratic.
“I want to secure ownership rights and greater empowerment for the people of Kashmir, but I will not do so through the use of force or by blocking roads. We will achieve these rights by winning elections,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing political tensions between the PPP and the ruling PML-N following the announcement of the AJK election results. Leaders from both parties have traded allegations over the conduct of the polls, further intensifying the political atmosphere.
The Election Commission has not publicly responded to Bilawal’s allegations, and no official announcement regarding re-polling had been made at the time of filing this report.
The controversy is expected to keep the focus on the electoral process in Azad Kashmir as political parties continue to challenge the outcome through legal and constitutional channels.
