Page 13 - Pakistan Link - July 30, 2021

PAKISTAN JULY 30, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P13
AJK Elections: Final Results Show Clear Gloating and Allegations Aplenty as PTI,

Majority of PTI with 25 Assembly Seats Opposition Trade Barbs over Results

of elections, wherein candidates
against eight reserved seats are elect-
ed, before July 29.
To another question, Mir said
there was no provision in local elec-
tion laws to invite international ob-
servers, which was why they did not
invite anyone.
“However, if anyone came on
their own, we did not stop them ei-
ther.”
When asked if the Commission
had compiled the number of votes
secured by the contesting parties,
he said it could not be done imme-
diately.

Protest by PPP activists
Meanwhile, a large number of
PPP activists staged a sit-in outside

the office of the returning officer in

district headquarters Hattian Bala
on Monday evening to protest what

Muzaff argarh: The Pakistan Teh- es, AJK’s judiciary, executive and the they alleged was manipulation of Islamabad: As the Pakistan Teh- damning indictment of their (the
reek-i-Insaf clinched 25 general Election Commission of Pakistan election results in LA-32 in favor of reek-i-Insaf emerged the biggest opposition) failure to deliver to the
seats of the Azad Jammu and Kash- for their cooperation in maintaining Haider, PML-N’s candidate and the winners in polls conducted for the people of AJK and their silence on
mir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, fol- law and order and holding free, fair outgoing AJK prime minister. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) IIOJK.”
lowed by 11 seats won by the PPP, and impartial elections. Haider had contested from Legislative Assembly, government PPP chairperson Bilawal
six by PML-N and one each by two Responding to a question, the two constituencies of Jhelum Val- officials rubbed their victory in Bhutto-Zardari accused the PTI of

regional political parties in Sunday’s CEC said he had not received even ley district; he lost in LA-33 to PTI’s their rivals’ faces whereas opposi- rigging and using violence to win
polls, it was officially announced on a single written complaint from any Deevan Ali Chughtai by a wide mar- tion members raised the oft -made the elections.

Monday. party about rigging. He also dis- gin. However, in LA-32, his home and familiar complaints of rigging. Making these allegations in a
The result of one constituency, missed reports that results of any constituency, he won against PPP’s Federal Information and tweet, he lamented that the Elec-

LA-16 Bagh-III, was however with- constituency were withheld or de- Sahibzada Ashfaq Zaffar by a mar- Broadcasting Minister Fawad tion Commission of Pakistan had
held as polling in four of its stations layed. gin of fewer than 300 votes in results Chaudhry said in a tweet that the failed to take action against the
could not be held due to rioting and Delay was caused in some cases declared late in the night. PTI’s “splendid win” was a testa- ruling party over the violation of

other reasons, Chief Election Com- only because it took time to trans- Rejecting the results, Zaffar ment to the “common man’s un- election rules and regulations, and

missioner Abdul Rashid Sulehria port results [on Form-24] from the claimed that his lead was converted wavering confidence in Prime added that “despite this, the PPP

said at a press conference in the cen- remote rural areas to the returning by the presiding officers “associated Minister Imran Khan”. emerged as the largest opposition
tral control room in Muzaffarabad, officers concerned, he maintained. with the prime minister” into defeat “The opposition needs to re- party in AJK with 11 seats, up from

adding that re-polling at these sta- However, all presiding officers with mala fide intention. visit its politics and leadership, three seats last time.”
tions was most likely to be held be- announced results at their station He said he had also submit- [as] people are not willing to ac- Earlier, PML-N President She-

fore July 29. soon after the conclusion of the poll- ted an application for recounting of cept Nawaz Sharif and [Asif Ali] hbaz Sharif also alleged that elec-
Sulehria said Sunday’s poll- ing process, he added. votes but alleged that the returning Zardari [as their leaders],” he tion code was violated and rules

ing was “by and large peaceful” ex- Sulehria told the presser that of officer concerned was showing re- tweeted. of transparency and impartiality

cept for one tragic incident in Kotli the 3.22 million voters, as many as luctance. Soon after, PML-N Informa- were ridiculed in the polls.
which claimed two lives. 1.99m had exercised their right to “In fact, Raja Farooq Haider tion Secretary Marriyum Aurang- He said in a statement that

“The arrangements we made for vote on Sunday, pushing the voter had lost the election. He has been zeb was quoted on the party’s Twit- “the people will remember the
the polls and the way we conducted turnout to 62 per cent. given this fake victory as face-sav- ter account as saying that “25 July way the election code was violated

them … I can say we have fulfilled Of the polled votes, 17,993 were ing,” he maintained. 2021 polls in [AJK] were a replay and transparency and impartiality
our responsibility by holding free, rejected, he said. “We will not leave this spot un- of 2018 [general] elections,” which were made irrelevant throughout
fair and impartial elections,” he as- Responding to a question, Elec- til the recounting is held in front of her party has long maintained the day.”
serted. tion Commission member Farhat us,” he told Dawn at 8:45pm, adding were rigged.
He expressed his gratitude to Ali Mir said the body would try its that some top PPP leaders were on “The PML-N was leading till Heated, divisive campaigns

the Pakistan Army, civil armed forc- best to conduct the second phase their way to attend the protest. the count of the common man’s heated words from politicians has
The vitriol and exchange of

[votes], but when it stopped, vote

PML-N Issues Notice to Candidate for Threatening thieves took the lead,” she said in a been at the center of the aggressive
series of tweets.
AJK election campaigns.
to Seek India’s Help in AJK Polls PTI won after garnering the votes Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-
From June 25 when PPP
She further said that had the

of “the common man”, the PML-N Zardari took the lead over the
Islamabad: PML-N Secretary Gener- would have been genuinely happy opponents in launching the cam-
al Ahsan Iqbal has served a show cause and even congratulated the ruling paign of his party from Dadyal,
notice on a party candidate in the AJK party. followed by PML-N vice president
general elections for his controversial “The common man does not Maryam Nawaz and federal min-

statement a day ago wherein he threat- vote for those who sold out Kash- isters Ali Amin Gandapur, Murad
ened to “call India for help” if attempts mir” and those responsible for Saeed and PM Khan, to July 23
were made [by the government] to rig “the rising prices of essential com- when the campaign ended at mid-
the polls. modities in the country”, she said, night, the electorate in AJK heard
Chaudhry Ismail Gujjar, repre- alleging that “Prime Minister Im- nothing but allegations, counter-
senting the PML-N in the AJK elec- ran Khan has unwavering belief in allegations and usual mudslinging
tions from LA-35, spoke to journalists stealing votes.” in rallies.

in Gujranwala after he reportedly had Earlier, PML-N Vice-Presi- Violence and clashes: The

arguments with the election staff at a dent Maryam Nawaz had rejected aggression transformed into vio-
nearby polling station. Chaudhry Ismail Gujjar’s controversial remarks stirred up a hornet’s nest the election result, tweeting that lence and clashes on the election
During the presser, which was her party would soon decide on a day, with at least two PTI workers
also aired on TV channels, Gujjar said: ing Gujjar to furnish an explanation have been better had the party served plan of action on the “shameless killed in a clash with PPP activists
“If you try to commit such an act [rig within seven days and warning him of a notice on its supremo Nawaz Sharif rigging” in the polls. at a polling station in the Kotli dis-
elections], I will call India for help ... I strict disciplinary action if he failed to and grilled him for meeting Afghan In response, Special Assistant trict of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

warn you this is the election of Azad comply with the order. National Security Adviser Hamdullah to the Prime Minister on Politi- The two PTI activists were

Kashmir and its people, let it be peace- ‘Better to serve notice to Nawaz: Mohib in London last week. cal Affairs, Shahbaz Gill, tweeted: shot dead by unidentified persons

ful.” The controversial statement from the Sharif’s meeting with the Afghan “What difference does your ac- at a polling station in the juris-

Promptly reacting to the state- PML-N candidate also got the atten- NSA was condemned by government cepting or rejecting [of the result] diction of Naarr police station in

ment that was severely criticized on tion of the government, with federal officials after pictures of the meeting make. You did not even accept the Charhoi, Kotli, according to police.
social media, Ahsan Iqbal issued a Minister for Information and Broad- were released on Twitter by the Na- ownership of any of the properties In a separate incident, five

show cause notice to Gujjar. casting Fawad Chaudhry taking ex- tional Security Council of Afghanistan [in London]. But then you had to, police constables were injured af-
“A statement given by you ap- ception to Gujjar’s remarks and refer- on July 24. and you will have to accept this ter Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) activists
peared on the electronic media in ring to him as a “political orphan”. Criticizing Sharif for the meeting, [result] as well.” attacked them with batons at the
which you have irresponsibly stated While appreciating the PML-N several PTI ministers said it “proved Federal Human Rights Min- Dhal Chakhya polling station in
that you will seek help from India for for issuing a show cause notice to the his [Nawaz’s] connections with Paki- ister Shireen Mazari, meanwhile, AJK’s LA-32 constituency, Jhelum
your election,” the notice reads, ask- “enemy of Pakistan”, he said it would stan’s enemies”. termed the PML-N’s defeat “a valley district SP Riaz Mughal said.
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