Vote count underway on nine seats of Muzaffarabad division, 12 refugee constituencies
islamabad
Polling for the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections ended on Sunday evening after authorities extended voting by one hour until 6pm across nine constituencies in the Muzaffarabad division. Similar to the first phase, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) alleged that there was rigging in the second phase as well. The polling process, originally scheduled from 8am to 5pm, was extended by an hour to facilitate voters in the Muzaffarabad division.
The AJK Election Commission said in a statement that the decision was taken in view of the large number of voters arriving at polling stations and to facilitate them in exercising their right to vote.
Voting took place in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division — five in Muzaffarabad district, two in Jhelum Valley, and two in Neelum — with 207 candidates contesting.
Simultaneously, polling was held in all 12 refugee constituencies, including six seats reserved for refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six for refugees from the Jammu region. A total of 137 candidates are in the race for these refugee seats.
Bilawal being ‘misled’
PML-N leaders rejected allegations of rigging and claims that Azad Kashmir President Chaudhry Latif Akbar and MNA Salahuddin Junejo had come under attack during the AJK elections.Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said a democratic party had started alleging rigging from around 10:30am despite the polling process continuing. He claimed PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had been given incorrect information and was being misled into making false statements.
Sanaullah said only three incidents were reported during polling across Azad Kashmir. Referring to one of them, he said Latif Akbar had gone to cast his vote at his polling station, where he had a dispute with members of the Sadat family.
