PPP Worker Killed During Violence in Kotli
The first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections was marred by violence, clashes and allegations of electoral interference on Monday.
A person was killed in Nakyal tehsil of Kotli district during polling in Mirpur Division.
The Pakistan Peoples Party identified the deceased as its worker, Mukhtar Younus.
The party alleged that he was killed during firing linked to supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Sardar Umair Naeem.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed responsibility for the death during the initial reporting period.
PPP AJK Election Cell head Sardar Abdul Shakoor demanded the immediate arrest of those involved.
He also called for stronger security to protect voters, political workers and election staff.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed grief over the killing.
He questioned why election authorities had not acted against alleged public displays of weapons before polling day.
Bilawal claimed that a video showing armed activity involving the PML-N candidate and his associates had appeared two days earlier.
He argued that timely action could have prevented the loss of life.
The PPP said Younus had been campaigning alongside its candidate, Javed Budhanvi.
Polling in several parts of Kotli was briefly interrupted after heated exchanges between PPP and PML-N supporters.
The two parties are coalition partners in the federal government but remain major rivals in the AJK elections.
Rival Parties Trade Serious Rigging Allegations
The PPP accused PML-N supporters of attempting to influence polling in several Kotli constituencies.
It called on the AJK Election Commission to investigate alleged interference in Union Council Throchi of LA-12 Kotli-V.
The PPP claimed that PML-N candidate Raja Riasat Khan entered polling stations with armed individuals.
It alleged that the group attempted to influence the voting process in a constituency contested by the PPP’s AJK president.
The party also complained that weak mobile phone services were creating communication problems for voters, journalists and emergency workers.
Similar allegations were raised in the LA-8 constituency.
The PPP claimed that PML-N supporters attempted to disrupt voting at the Raj Mahal polling station.
It demanded immediate action to ensure transparent and peaceful polling.
The PML-N also made serious accusations against rival parties.
In Bhimber district, it alleged that Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Ali Shan Soni entered the Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station and burned ballot papers.
PML-N leader Raja Azhar Iqbal said the station represented more than 500 votes.
He confirmed that a written complaint had been submitted to the district returning officer.
Police said the incident was under investigation.
The PML-N had earlier raised allegations of pre-poll manipulation in Kotli’s LA-10 constituency.
Prime Minister’s adviser Rana Sanaullah accused PPP leaders of involvement in planned electoral interference.
He claimed that election officials had been found at a private residence instead of reporting to their assigned polling stations.
The AJK Election Commission later confirmed that two presiding officers had been arrested and suspended.
Replacement officials were appointed, and the polling material issued to the detained officers was recovered.
However, a police case filed over the incident named three election officials.
The complaint stated that the officials collected polling materials but went to a private residence instead of their assigned stations.
The case was registered under election laws and criminal provisions.
PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan rejected the PML-N’s allegations.
He accused federal ministers and government institutions of interfering in the election process.
He also referred to development announcements and the delivery of electric buses to AJK during the campaign.
Chan said government resources should not be used to influence voters.
He demanded fair elections and asked political rivals to allow citizens to cast their votes freely.
Security Tightened Across 2,316 Polling Stations
Polling began at 8am across 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division.
The scheduled closing time was 5pm.
However, Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan extended voting until 6pm in Mirpur, Bhimber and Kotli districts.
A total of 288 candidates contested the first phase of the elections.
The Election Commission established 2,316 polling stations across the division.
Of these, 1,241 were declared highly sensitive.
Another 724 stations were classified as sensitive.
Election monitoring was organised through 13 zones and 205 sectors.
More than 18,500 police and law enforcement personnel were deployed under a three-level security plan.
Police formed the first layer of security.
The Punjab Rangers, Sindh Rangers and Federal Constabulary provided the second layer.
The Pakistan Army formed the third security layer.
Around 2,100 army personnel were also assigned to election duties.
Quick Response Force teams remained on standby for emergencies.
AJK Inspector General of Police Liaqat Ali Malik initially said polling was proceeding in a largely peaceful manner.
He described some early confrontations as minor political disputes.
The police chief promised action against anyone attempting to disrupt the election, regardless of political affiliation.
AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal had already warned that strict legal action would be taken against those interfering with voting.
The warning also followed reports of a planned protest march by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee.
Authorities remained concerned that political clashes and protest activity could affect the election process.
The death in Nakyal and allegations from rival parties placed greater pressure on the Election Commission to maintain order.
The violence also overshadowed the first phase of voting in a contest widely viewed as a political battle between the PPP and PML-N.
