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AJK elections

Bilawal Bhutto alleges rigging in AJK elections

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Bilawal Bhutto

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party Chiamran Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has alleged that the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections were marred by rigging, claiming the polls were neither free nor fair.

In a video message announcing a public rally in Bagh district, Bilawal said that despite what he described as electoral manipulation, the Pakistan Peoples Party secured victory in nine constituencies.

Addressing the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N), Bilawal said the party’s “countdown has begun” and vowed to continue challenging the election results.

He claimed that seats in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad had been “stolen” from the PPP and pledged to reclaim them through legal and political means. “The PPP never gives up, never retreats, and never leaves the field,” he said.

Earlier, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon also alleged that the irregularities seen in Pakistan’s 2024 general elections had been repeated in the AJK polls.

Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Memon accused the federal and Punjab governments of colluding to influence the election outcome, describing it as a continuation of what he called the “Form 47” controversy.

Bilawal warns federal government against ‘rigging’ AJK elections

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Bilawal warns

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari warned the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) that any attempt to manipulate the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections would trigger political consequences for the federal government.

Addressing a public rally in Muzaffarabad, Bilawal urged the government to ensure free, fair and transparent elections, saying the PPP would safeguard its electoral mandate.

 He warned that if the party’s mandate was “stolen,” it would challenge the federal government politically.

Bilawal said the people of Kashmir should decide their future through the ballot box, adding that election results must reflect the public’s vote.

He also called for greater representation of Kashmiris in institutions responsible for decisions affecting the region and proposed the formation of a truth commission to address longstanding issues facing Kashmir.

The PPP chairman accused the ruling party of treating the AJK elections as a matter of political survival and claimed that a defeat in the region was being viewed as a threat to its position at the federal level. He said the government would face no political difficulty if the elections were conducted transparently but warned against alleged electoral interference.

Bilawal also criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for what he described as a politics of boycott, urging the party to actively participate in elections and parliamentary politics instead.

 He invited what he called “serious politicians” within PTI to work with the PPP in defending democratic processes and opposing electoral manipulation.

PPP wins 2 seats as unofficial results continue in AJK elections

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PPP wins

MIRPUR: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured victories in two constituencies as unofficial and incomplete results continued to emerge from the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, with the party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) locked in a closely contested race.

PPP candidates Qasim Majeed won LA-2 Mirpur-2 with 12,904 votes, defeating PML-N’s Azeem Bakhsh Chaudhry, who received 8,182 votes. In LA-3 Mirpur-3, PPP’s Chaudhry Yasir Sultan was declared the unofficial winner with 11,676 votes, ahead of PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed, who polled 9,832 votes.

In other constituencies, incomplete results showed PML-N leading in LA-1 Mirpur-1, LA-4 Mirpur-4, LA-5 Bhimber-1, LA-6 Bhimber-2, LA-7 Bhimber-3, LA-9 Kotli-2 and LA-13 Kotli-6. The PPP maintained early leads in LA-8 Kotli-1, LA-10 Kotli-3, LA-11 Kotli-4 and LA-12 Kotli-5, where vote counting was still underway.

Polling for the first phase of the elections concluded Monday after voting in 13 constituencies across Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts. Election authorities extended polling by one hour before ballot counting began.

The Election Commission has stressed that the figures are unofficial and non-final, with final results to be announced after completion of the official consolidation process.

Bilawal Bhutto predicts decisive victory for PPP in AJK elections

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Bilawal Bhutto

KOTLI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari predicted a decisive victory for his party in the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, saying the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would suffer a historic defeat.

Addressing a public rally in Kotli, Bilawal said the PPP aims to win every seat in the constituency to form the next AJK government. He said the future of Kashmir rests in the hands of its people and that voters, not political parties, would determine the region’s direction.

Bilawal also criticized the PML-N, accusing one of its federal ministers of making remarks harmful to the interests of Kashmiris. He said that until the minister was removed from the federal cabinet, he would consider the statement to reflect the government’s official policy.

The PPP chairman reiterated his demand for the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address recent developments in Azad Kashmir.

 He also urged the government to restore internet services and suspend further action until the proposed commission completes its work.

Bilawal said the people of Azad Kashmir are seeking change and pledged that, if elected, the PPP would raise the Kashmir issue at every available forum.

 He also warned political opponents against targeting PPP workers, saying the party would respond through the democratic process after the elections.