MUZAFFARABAD: The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has taken stern disciplinary action in the wake of election‑day controversies, suspending multiple senior officials in Kotli district for negligence and misconduct.
According to official notifications, Senior Inspector General of Police Sartaj Aziz has been removed from his post, with proceedings initiated against him under the Civil Servants Act.
Syed Usman Azam has been appointed as acting Senior Inspector General. In addition, SP Kotli Adeel Ahmed and SHO Saddar Police Station Mirpur have been suspended for dereliction of duty.
The crackdown also extended to the civil administration, with Deputy Commissioner Kotli Imran Shaheen suspended for misconduct. Muhammad Usman Sarem has been appointed as the new Deputy Commissioner of Kotli.
These measures come amid mounting criticism of the authorities’ handling of the first phase of polling in Mirpur division, where incidents of violence and irregularities were reported. In Nakyal, clashes left several injured, while in Samahni (Bhimber), an IPP candidate was arrested on terrorism charges after allegedly setting a polling station on fire.
Reports of mass violence in Rawlakot and casualties among political workers further underscored the fragile security environment.
Despite the Chief Election Commissioner’s assurances that polling was conducted in a free and transparent manner, opposition parties — particularly the PPP — have accused the Election Commission of ignoring irregularities and alleged political bribes by the PML‑N.
The suspension of senior police and administrative officials in Kotli is being seen as an attempt to restore confidence in the electoral process and demonstrate accountability.
