Re-polls being held on four polling stations in AJK’s Bagh

MUZAFFARABAD: The Election Commission is holding re-polling on four polling stations in Bagh LA-16 East constituency of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

The preparations for re-polling have been completed at 4 polling stations in Bagh area of ​​Azad Kashmir. The polling process was suspended during the general elections on July 25 after polling bags were snatched during a scuffle.

The Election Commission to suspend the results of four polling stations. It said that re-polling would be held at polling stations 134, 135, 136 and 42 for which strict security arrangements have been made.  According to the results, the PTI candidate has a lead of 199 votes.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won the elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, winning by a simple majority and will form the next government in the region.

According to unofficial and preliminary results, the PTI secured 25 seats. The PPP in second place with 11 seats and PML-N in third place with six seats. Both the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party (JKPP) and the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC) have also won one seat each.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-  Vice President Maryam Nawaz rejected the results of the Kashmir polls, alleging that the elections were rigged.

Maryam solemnly said she has not accepted the results and will never accept them. “I did not accept the 2018 results either or acknowledge this fake government,” she added.

In another tweet, she lauded the party workers for “putting up a good fight despite violence and rigging”. Maryam also hinted at her party’s deliberation to come up with an official move on the matter.

A day earlier, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz rejected the results  has shared a video of alleged rigging on social media, accusing polling staff of stamping ballot for a PTI candidate during AJK elections.

She claimed that polling staff were stamping ballots for the candidate of ruling party at Sheikh Soli primary school polling station in Forward Kahuta, an area of AJK’s Haveli district.

PPP leader Bilawal Bhutto alleged the election commission had failed to take action against the PTI for violating electoral rules. He said despite the rigging, the PPP emerged as the largest opposition party in AJK with 11 seats, up from 3 seats last time.