ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has recommended postponing the upcoming Azad Jammu And Kashmir (AJK) election by two months.
The NCOC has written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AJK stating that the polls should be delayed due to the rising number of coronavirus cases.
The letter said that large political gatherings and rallies due to the election will lead to the further spread of the virus in the state.
The NCOC said the number of coronavirus positive cases are already high and said one million residents in the region could be vaccinated by September 2021. The AJK Assembly’s terms will end on July 29, but so far the schedule for the new election has not been issued.
AJK President opposes decision
Earlier, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Raja Farooq Haider had accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of wanting to achieve its desired results in the AJK elections.
He warned Prime Minister Imran Khan from interferes in the election and said AJK will never become a province. He confirmed to have received a letter from the NCOC to postpone the elections for the next two months.
“Elections in AJK can only be postponed if there is external aggression,” he said, adding that such letters are an insult voters as the power is vested in the Legislative Assembly and the decision will create political tension in the region.
PTI accuse AJK President of rigging
Meanwhile, president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Azad Jammu Kashmir chapter, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, has accused the AJK government of rigging before the upcoming elections.
Addressing a press conference, the former prime minister of AJK said the recent release of funds for roads and many other projects in various constituencies and provision of jobs was tantamount to pre-poll rigging.
He said the PTI government had released maximum funds for AJK during the past two and a half years and it was its top priority to initiate work on mega development projects in the region. He said the PTI will also issue health cards in the area.
The former prime minister said the PTI wanted free, fair and transparent elections in the AJK to end the allegations of rigging in the elections.
He said the Chief Election Commissioner should devise a code of conduct in consultation with all political parties and all candidates should contest elections in a good manner.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had presented the Kashmir case in an effective manner and exposed the real face of India before the world. He said the PTI would contest elections without making an electoral alliance with any political party.
