Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) – In a closely contested by-poll held in the Bagh constituency, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate, Zia Qamar, has emerged as the victor, securing 22,619 votes across 189 polling stations. The by-polls were conducted to fill the vacant seat following the disqualification of former Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas by the AJK High Court in a contempt of court case.
PPP Celebrates Victory, Zardari Expresses Gratitude:
The PPP co-chairman, Asif Zardari, extended his congratulations to Zia Qamar on his victory and expressed gratitude towards the people of Azad Kashmir for their trust in the PPP. Zardari acknowledged the support of the electorate and assured PPP workers of good news in the wake of this victory.
PML-N Alleges Election Rigging:
However, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has accused the PPP of rigging the by-polls in the Bagh constituency. Hina Pervaiz Butt, a PML-N Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA), voiced her concerns over the alleged irregularities, stating that election rigging in Kashmir is unacceptable. The PML-N’s candidate, Mushtaq Mihas, secured the second spot with 17,321 votes.
SAPM’s Claims of Rigging Gain Momentum:
Before the unofficial results were announced, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Ata Tarrar claimed that the PML-N had a clear majority in the Bagh by-polls. However, he also mentioned that they had received information regarding possible rigging during the election process, casting doubt on the integrity of the results.
Sensitive Polling Stations and Security Measures:
The Bagh constituency saw the establishment of 189 polling stations, out of which 29 were declared sensitive and 20 highly sensitive. To maintain law and order during the by-polls, the administration deployed over 2,578 police officials, along with 600 Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel.
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The Way Forward:
With the unofficial results favoring the PPP candidate, Zia Qamar, it remains to be seen how the official results and subsequent investigations into the alleged rigging will unfold. The Election Commission of AJK is expected to take up the matter and address the concerns raised by the PML-N regarding the fairness of the by-polls.
Despite the allegations of rigging, the people of Azad Kashmir exercised their democratic right and turned out to vote, hoping for a brighter future under the elected representative. The final outcome will be instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the Bagh constituency, with potential ramifications for the larger political arena in AJK.
The unofficial results mentioned in this article are subject to change pending the announcement of the official results by the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
