- Man killed during PPP-JAAC protest: Rana Sanaullah.
- Says polling remained fair during Muzaffarabad polls.
- PPP alleged rigging after failing in first phase: Sanaullah.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Monday claimed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured a simple majority to form the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir after winning 23 of the 45 seats.
Addressing a press conference alongside Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam in Islamabad, the senior PML-N leader claimed victory on 13 seats in the second phase of the AJK elections, including four of the seven seats in Muzaffarabad, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured three seats.
According to Sanaullah, the PML-N also won 10 of the 12 refugee seats, while the PPP secured two.
He said that polling in LA-27 was postponed due to adverse weather, while voting would be held on Tuesday at 54 polling stations in LA-27 and LA-28.
The PML-N’s parliamentary party would meet immediately after the third phase of elections on August 10 to discuss government formation, he added.
The second phase of the AJK elections was held in the Muzaffarabad division on Sunday, with the PML-N emerging as the frontrunner by securing 13 of the 18 constituencies declared so far, according to unofficial and provisional results.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led PPP stands second, having won five seats so far in the second phase of the AJK elections.
The elections, however, were overshadowed by allegations of electoral irregularities and incidents of violence, with the PPP claiming its leaders were attacked and at least one party worker was killed.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf rejected the AJK election process, alleging that the mandate was “fake” and accusing the PML-N of pushing the situation towards further instability.
Raja said that the elections were neither free, fair nor impartial and would not be accepted.
During today’s presser, Sanaullah accused the PPP of joining hands with the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to disrupt elections in AJK, saying the party began raising allegations of rigging as soon as polling started after failing to perform well in the first phase of the elections.
According to the senior PML-N leader, the Bilawal-led party initially levelled allegations relating to 13 constituencies, which later narrowed to four and eventually two after it was asked to provide evidence.
“We even offered to conduct a forensic audit of the polling stations where rigging was alleged,” he said, adding that polling remained free, fair and transparent throughout the election day.
He also alleged that attempts were made by the PPP to influence the constituency of PPP candidate and AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, including efforts to have Sindh police deployed there.
PM felicitates Nawaz, successful candidates
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and the party’s successful candidates on the victory in the second phase of AJK elections.
In a statement, the prime minister described the electoral success as the result of the hard work of Nawaz and the party’s entire team.
“The continuity of this success is the outcome of the hard work of Nawaz Sharif and the entire PML-N team,” the prime minister said, adding that the party — under Nawaz’s leadership — had conducted a highly successful election campaign in AJK.
PM Shehbaz said that the PML-N’s performance reflected the AJK people’s confidence in the party’s policies.
He added that the development and prosperity of Kashmir, along with the welfare of its people, remained among the government’s foremost priorities.
Shehbaz noted that political parties had actively participated in the second phase of the AJK elections.