Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Cell In-charge Sardar Abdul Shakoor on Sunday alleged polling delays and electoral irregularities in several constituencies during the second phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, while the Election Commission postponed polling in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I due to heavy rainfall and landslides.
According to Shakoor, polling in LA-28 was delayed because polling staff had not reached 71 polling stations by the scheduled time. He said large numbers of voters were left waiting, hindering their ability to exercise their right to vote. He called on the AJK Election Commission, the district administration and relevant authorities to ensure the immediate deployment of polling staff so that polling could begin without further delay.
In LA-29, Shakoor said polling staff had not reached most polling stations by the scheduled time, delaying the start of polling. He said the absence of staff was preventing voters from exercising their franchise and could affect the transparency and timely completion of the electoral process. He urged the Election Commission and district authorities to ensure the immediate deployment of the remaining polling staff.
Separately, the AJK Election Commission announced that polling in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I had been postponed after heavy rainfall and landslides prevented polling from taking place. The Commission said multiple roads had been blocked, preventing polling staff and election materials from reaching polling stations on time despite efforts by the district administration to restore access.
Read: Coalition allies PML-N and PPP at each other’s throats over AJK election claims
It said a new polling date for the constituency would be announced at 2 pm and apologised to voters for the inconvenience, adding that polling in all other constituencies was continuing according to schedule.
Responding to the decision, Shakoor questioned the rationale for postponing polling at all 196 polling stations across the constituency. He said it was incomprehensible to suggest that every polling station had been simultaneously affected by fallen trees, landslides or inaccessibility.
He also said polling staff and election materials are normally dispatched the night before polling day and questioned why political parties, candidates and the public had not been informed in advance if weather conditions had made polling impossible.
He argued that any postponement should have been limited to affected polling stations rather than the entire constituency and called on the Election Commission to publish a detailed report identifying the affected roads, polling stations and administrative measures taken.
In LA-31, Shakoor said polling staff had still not reached polling stations 74, 75 and polling stations 80 to 86 in Gahl village of Union Council Komi Kot, resulting in significant delays and difficulties for voters. He urged the Election Commission to ensure the immediate deployment of staff.
He also said PPP candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar had submitted a written complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner regarding the closure of the Rangla-Katkair Road. According to the complaint, more than 50 vehicles carrying voters had been stranded since the previous night, preventing many voters from reaching their polling stations.
The PPP called on the authorities to reopen the road immediately, facilitate the safe passage of stranded voters to polling stations and investigate the circumstances that led to the road closure.
Read more: Kashmir’s future should be decided by the people of Kashmir: Bilawal
In LA-34, Shakoor alleged that polling agents representing PPP candidate Colonel (Retd) Qadeer were being prevented from taking their places at polling stations in the Cantonment and Sheranwala Gate areas.
He said election officials had argued that the agents were not residents of the local area, but maintained that under the election rules a person belonging to a constituency in the valley and registered at a Lahore address was eligible to serve as a polling agent at any polling camp or polling station in Lahore linked to that constituency. He called on the Election Commission to intervene and ensure that PPP polling agents were allowed to perform their duties.
ایل اے-34 کے پولنگ اسٹیشنز پر پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے پولنگ ایجنٹس کو بٹھانے سے روکا جا رہا ہے، الیکشن کمیشن فوری مداخلت کرے، سردار عبدالشکور، انچارج الیکشن سیل، پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی آزاد جموں و کشمیر@BBhuttoZardari
مزید پڑھیں: https://t.co/iYZ0bhGscM pic.twitter.com/5HV0gus6GK
— PPP Digital Media (@mediapppdigital) August 2, 2026
In LA-32, Shakoor said PPP candidate Ashfaq Zafar had submitted a written complaint to the Chief Election Commissioner alleging two electoral irregularities. The complaint alleged that workers of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) were unlawfully stamping ballot papers at Polling Station No. 24, and that a government employee identified as Nusrat was serving as a PML-N polling agent at another polling station in the constituency, which the complaint described as a violation of the election code of conduct and rules governing public servants.
پیپلز پارٹی کے پولنگ ایجنٹس کو تین پولنگ اسٹیشنوں میں داخلے سے روک دیا گیا، الیکشن کمیشن سے فوری کارروائی کا مطالبہ
مظفرآباد: پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی آزاد جموں و کشمیر الیکشن سیل نے حلقہ ایل اے 32 کے امیدوار اشفاق ظفر کی جانب سے چیف الیکشن کمشنر آزاد جموں و کشمیر کو ہنگامی شکایت… pic.twitter.com/U7Q9DYV6jN
— Pakistan Peoples Party – PPP (@PPP_Org) August 2, 2026
The PPP called on the Election Commission to halt the alleged unlawful activity, take the relevant ballot papers into custody, remove the government employee from polling agent duties, investigate both matters and take legal action against those found responsible
PML-N will win Muzaffarabad and Punjab seats, says Marriyum Aurangzeb
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed gratitude over the ongoing elections for AJK seats in Muzaffarabad and Punjab refugee constituencies, saying the people of Mirpur had shown confidence in the PML-N.
Speaking during a visit to polling stations, Aurangzeb said the second phase of elections, which was scheduled in Muzaffarabad after Mirpur, followed the trust expressed by the people of Mirpur in PML-N.
She thanked the people for expressing confidence in PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Aurangzeb criticised a political party that had faced defeat in elections in Muzaffarabad and Punjab, saying it was “crying”. She said voters did not come out because of shouting, threats or allegations of rigging, but because of performance.
She said the people had already given their decision during the Mirpur election and the Muzaffarabad public gathering, adding that the “lion” symbol would receive votes in Muzaffarabad.
Aurangzeb said the enthusiasm at PML-N camps would be reflected in the ballot boxes and claimed that PML-N would achieve victory in Muzaffarabad and Punjab.
She said elections could not be won through complaints or threats, adding that those making allegations should show courage and contest elections.
Aurangzeb said elections were fought through courage and performance, not through complaints. She added that after Mirpur, the “roar and victory of the lion” would be seen in Muzaffarabad and across Pakistan.
She said PML-N was fully prepared for the next phase of elections in the Poonch Division.
PPP Nadeem Afzal Chan alleges irregularities in AJK polls
PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan on Sunday alleged that the party was being treated unfairly during the AJK elections, warning that the party would not allow the electoral process to be validated if issues were not addressed.
Chan said the failure to deliver ballot papers and the reported law and order situation in Muzaffarabad were unacceptable. He urged the authorities to “take notice” and correct the electoral process, saying the AJK elections were being watched by the entire world.
He said there was a strong opinion within the PPP in favour of boycotting the second and third phases of the elections, but the party leadership rejected the proposal.
Chan said those who wanted to prove the electoral process was flawed would now have a stronger position. He added that the PPP was not contesting elections only to win seats and did not want to take an extreme step.
He said he had received information that PPP leader Chaudhry Latif Akbar had been attacked, adding that voters were facing groups of people. He said the party wanted change through the ballot, not through force.
Chan described the election as appearing to be an “ultra Form-47 style election” and said the party was not merely making allegations but was providing concrete evidence.
He said the biggest contests were taking place in Sialkot and Jhang, where there were concerns that a “Gullu Butt model” could be used.
Chan said the PPP would compete with the “favoured party of the collapsed system” and added that his party was not one that would run away.
Shazia Marri alleges administrative interference in second phase of AJK elections
PPP Central Spokesperson Shazia Marri on Sunday expressed concern over alleged irregularities during polling in the second phase of the AJK elections, alleging administrative interference and violations in the electoral process.
Marri said reports of administrative interference and irregularities in the second phase of the AJK elections were “extremely concerning”. She said any attempt to influence elections through the state machinery was an attack on the democratic process.
She alleged that the Election Commission’s silence over PPP complaints regarding alleged rigging in the first phase had raised questions over the transparency of the second phase. She said timely action on earlier complaints could have restored confidence in the elections.
Marri said it was disappointing that no action had been taken by the Election Commission despite admissions by elements involved in rigging.
She alleged that during the second phase, fake votes were being placed in ballot boxes and polling agents were being unlawfully removed. She said the party had submitted multiple written complaints regarding electoral irregularities to the Election Commission.
Marri called on the Election Commission to take immediate action and ensure transparency in the second phase of the elections. She said the PPP would not accept any attempt to deprive people of their right to vote.
She said elements attempting to make the electoral process controversial were enemies of democracy and the public mandate. She added that wherever rigging occurred and the Election Commission failed to take action, the party would hold protests and demand re-election in those constituencies as its constitutional and democratic right.
Marri said the PPP would continue its constitutional and legal struggle at every polling station to protect the public mandate. She added that the decision of the people of AJK could not be taken away and that the party would defend the public mandate at all costs.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneWaqas AhmadRead More