KARACHI: Even as leaders of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) are attributing the recent victory in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections to the trust and confidence invested by people in the incumbent government, the two runner-up parties in the polls have a different take on the issue.

The Pakistan People’s Party has out rightly described the AJK elections as massively rigged; however, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) congratulated the Nawaz Sharif-led government but attributed their victory to being in power in the Centre.

PPP Media Cell issued a statement on Friday saying, “Pakistan People’s Party AJK chapter has rejected the AJK election results held due to massive rigging and manipulations.”

It further said that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has decided to consult with party leadership and the Central Executive Committee to “devise future course of action over the issue”.

Meanwhile, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari also termed the AJK election results as “over-cooked”.

PTI chairman Imran Khan said traditionally the party holding strength in Islamabad tends to win the AJK elections; however, he would “still like to congratulate PML-N over its victory”.

Imran congratulated the PTI candidates who won their seats and also those candidates “who put up a great fight against heavy odds in AJK elections”.

PTI Central Information Secretary Naeem ul Haque said, “AJK results prove once again that it is difficult to beat the ruling party. But PTI needs to re examine its strategy there.”

Further clarifying the party position, PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan said PTI was competing the AJK elections for the first time and it did so with courage and a desire to succeed.

He congratulated PML-N over its success in the polls.

The special assistant to prime minister, Syed Asif Kirmani, said the failure of PPP government to serve the masses in Azad Kashmir during its tenure made way for PML-N to secure majority seats in the Legislative Assembly.

“People were fed up of their incompetence and corruption. They were deprived of basic facilities during last five years, so they vented their ire on Peoples Party in AJK election through their right to vote,” he said in an interview with the state broadcaster.

PML-N emerged as the single largest party in the AJK elections, winning 31 seats in the 41 members Legislative Assembly.

Opinion

One year on

One year on

Governance by the ruling coalition has been underwhelming and marked by growing authoritarianism.

Editorial

Climate funding gap
Updated 17 Feb, 2025

Climate funding gap

Pakistan must boost its institutional capacity to develop bankable climate projects.
UN monitoring report
Updated 17 Feb, 2025

UN monitoring report

Pakistan must press Kabul diplomatically over its tolerance of TTP terrorism.
Tax policy reform
17 Feb, 2025

Tax policy reform

THE cabinet’s decision to create a Tax Policy Office at the finance ministry has raised hopes that tax policy is...
Maintaining balance
Updated 16 Feb, 2025

Maintaining balance

It must take a more proactive approach to establishing Pakistan’s bona fides.
Welcome return
16 Feb, 2025

Welcome return

IT is almost here; the moment Pakistan has long been waiting for — the first International Cricket Council...
Childhood trauma
16 Feb, 2025

Childhood trauma

BEING a child in this society should not be so hard. But recurrent reports of child abuse — from burying girl...