ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday reiterated allegations of widespread electoral irregularities during the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections as polling concluded in two constituencies of the Muzaffarabad division where voting had been postponed from August 2 due to adverse weather conditions.
PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman strongly condemned alleged electoral irregularities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s LA-27 constituency in Muzaffarabad and Union Council Bheri, accusing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of attempting to undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
In a statement, Sherry Rehman alleged that the PML-N was once again trying to make the election process controversial in constituencies considered strongholds of the PPP.
She claimed that polling staff assigned to LA-27 were found at the residence of a PML-N supporter along with ballot papers, describing the incident as a serious breach of the electoral process.
“The reported presence of official polling staff in a private residence, coupled with allegations that ballot papers had been stamped, is deeply alarming,” she said.
The PPP leader said the party had submitted videos purportedly showing the alleged irregularities to the election authorities as evidence and called on the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission to take immediate administrative and legal action to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
Sherry Rehman questioned why the polling officials concerned were allowed to resume election duties despite what she described as clear evidence of irregularities.
She said the incidents had raised serious concerns about the transparency and impartiality of the elections, as well as the credibility of the institutions responsible for overseeing the electoral process.
Calling on the Chief Election Commissioner of Azad Jammu and Kashmir to take immediate notice of the matter, she urged the commission to ensure an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the allegations.
Sherry Rehman also demanded that all individuals found to have influenced or interfered with the electoral process be held accountable in accordance with the law.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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