The first phase of elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was marred by deadly violence, injuries and allegations of electoral malpractice, with coalition partners PPP and PML-N blaming each other for the unrest…reports Asian Lite News Desk
The first phase of elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was overshadowed by violence, allegations of electoral rigging and the killing of a political worker on Monday, with coalition partners Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) accusing each other of undermining the democratic process, according to local media reports.
At least one person was killed and several others injured during polling across parts of the region, as both parties traded allegations of violence and election malpractice.
The PPP alleged that 35-year-old party worker Mukhtar Younus was shot dead during polling in Nikyal in Kotli district. The party accused supporters of a PML-N candidate of opening fire.
In a statement, the PPP said: “Our party worker, Mukhtar Yunus, was killed and two others injured during incidents of firing by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates.”
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed grief over the killing and questioned the response of the authorities.
“Where are the relevant authorities? What is the Election Commission doing?” he asked.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani accused the PML-N of orchestrating the violence.
According to The Express Tribune, Ghani said the party had received information indicating that the firing came from the PML-N candidate or his supporters and claimed that several PPP workers were also injured in the incident.
“The PML-N and the PPP, coalition partners in the federal government, lobbed rigging allegations at each other as a party worker’s death marred the electoral process in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK),” The Express Tribune reported.
The first phase of polling was held across 13 Assembly constituencies in the districts of Bhimber, Mirpur and Kotli, with more than 1.4 million registered voters eligible to cast their ballots.
The PoK government had appealed to voters to participate in large numbers and declared a public holiday to facilitate polling.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) are among the major political parties contesting the election. Around 300 candidates are in the fray for the 13 Assembly seats being decided in the first phase.
Amid the violence, questions were also raised over the credibility of the electoral process.
An official alleged that the election was merely an eyewash and claimed that the outcome had effectively been decided by the Pakistan military.
According to the official, the military under Field Marshal Asim Munir has played a key role in ensuring that the Pakistan government does not concede to demands raised by sections of the people in PoK.
The official further claimed that the military seeks to maintain complete control over the political landscape in the region in order to suppress any future protests.
