A day before the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin questioned on Sunday the election process and levelled serious allegations against the Election Commission and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Yasin said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had opposed the phased elections from the beginning, but the electoral watchdog went ahead with the polls for its own choice and specific purposes.
He alleged that Punjab police had deliberately been brought to AJK for specific purposes. He also criticised the incumbent chief election commissioner, terming his role as biased and objectionable.
Yasin said the situation had brought back memories of the 2016 AJK elections, alleging organised rigging in several constituencies. He alleged that the PML-N was being forced to victory in several constituencies, including LA-9.
The PPP AJK president also alleged that a candidate who had been accused in Britain was made to win an election. He questioned the electoral process, saying Rana Sanaullah had announced the PML-N victory several months earlier.
'PPP to approach legal forum against electoral rigging'
Yasin demanded transparent investigations into all disputed constituencies. He said the PPP would approach every constitutional and legal forum against alleged electoral rigging and the Election Commission's alleged biased role. He added that the party was approaching the superior courts and hoped to get justice.
Former candidate Muhammad Sohaib also alleged rigging in LA-4 Khari Shareef. He claimed that turnout on polling day was extremely low, but official results showed a voting rate of more than 80 per cent.
Sohaib alleged that he had personally seen election staff stamping ballot papers in favour of the PML-N.
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