RAWALPINDI (Web Desk) – Punjab Senior Minister Marriyam Aurangzeb has rejected allegations of electoral manipulation raised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) during the ongoing second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections.
Aurangzeb said the allegations were being raised because the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was performing well in the elections.
She contrasted the reaction to the AJK polls with the recent political developments in Gilgit-Baltistan, saying the federal government had congratulated the PPP when it emerged successful there. She questioned why allegations of rigging were now being raised against the PML-N during the AJK elections.
The Punjab minister also argued that isolated incidents involving individual ballots should not be used to cast doubt on the entire electoral process.
According to Aurangzeb, thousands of votes are cast during elections and occasional mistakes in ballot marking do not, by themselves, establish that an election has been manipulated.
Aurangzeb rejects PPP account of incident
The senior minister also commented on an incident involving supporters of the PPP and PML-N during polling.
She said workers from the two parties became involved in a physical confrontation, during which an elderly man suffered a cardiac emergency.
Aurangzeb disputed the PPP’s description of the incident as a shooting and alleged that the episode was subsequently given a political interpretation.
She said footage of the confrontation was available on social media and maintained that the PML-N did not support violence or abusive political conduct.
The comments came after the PPP reported several complaints to the AJK Election Commission concerning alleged irregularities at polling stations during the second phase.
PPP raises polling complaints
The PPP has accused PML-N supporters of electoral malpractice at a number of polling stations and has called on the Election Commission to investigate its complaints.
The party has alleged, among other issues, that some of its polling agents were prevented from observing the voting process and that irregularities occurred at several constituencies.
The PML-N has rejected the allegations, describing some of the complaints as unfounded and warning against attempts to undermine confidence in the electoral process.
The Election Commission is responsible for examining complaints and determining whether any violations of electoral rules occurred.
Political contest remains tense
The exchange between the two parties comes as the second phase of AJK elections is being held amid heightened political tensions.
The first phase, conducted in the Mirpur division, was also followed by allegations of electoral irregularities and demands for action from the PPP.
The two coalition partners at the federal level have subsequently held discussions over the disputed election-related issues.
Aurangzeb said elections should be viewed as a test of political parties’ performance and urged the PPP to concentrate on its governance record, particularly in Sindh, if it wanted to strengthen its appeal among voters.
She maintained that voters ultimately make their decision based on the performance of political parties and governments.
The AJK elections are being conducted in three phases because of security considerations. The second phase is underway, while the final phase is scheduled for August 10.
As polling continues, complaints from political parties and responses from the election authorities are likely to remain central to the debate over the credibility of the electoral process.
