PPP Will Not Relinquish Its Constitutional and Democratic Right Against Election Results; Transparent Probe into Alleged Irregularities Demanded: PPP AJK President
Islamabad (News Reporter): President of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Azad Kashmir and senior parliamentarian Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin has expressed serious reservations over the results of the recent Azad Kashmir elections, alleging that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) interfered in the electoral process and undermined the democratic mandate of the people.
He alleged that a government formed amid allegations of electoral rigging would do nothing to improve the already serious political, economic, and administrative situation in Azad Kashmir and would instead make matters worse.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin said that the PPP is a democratic political party that has always prioritized democracy and the parliamentary system over personal interests.
He said that the PPP had faced electoral injustices in the past as well, but Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, despite receiving fewer seats, decided to sit in the assembly in the interest of democracy.
He said that despite reservations over election results, the PPP has always chosen the parliamentary route to strengthen the democratic process and ensure continuity of the parliamentary system.
Referring to the 2016 Azad Kashmir elections, he said that the current Chief Election Commissioner was also holding the same position at that time and that results allegedly began emerging even before the results had been officially compiled.
He claimed that an announcement regarding his defeat, along with that of Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, was made even before the counting process had begun, but the Election Commission did not issue any clarification or denial.
He further claimed that he was even refused a formal copy of the result and was eventually provided a result on plain paper at dawn.
Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin said that the PPP secured only three seats in the 2016 elections, but on the instructions of the party leadership, it decided to sit in the assembly in the interest of democracy.
He said that the PPP has never pursued politics aimed at derailing the democratic system.
Regarding the recent elections, he said that the PPP had presented what it described as concrete evidence of alleged rigging and its reservations before the relevant forums. However, instead of conducting investigations, notifications of successful candidates in disputed constituencies were issued.
He questioned why there was such haste in issuing notifications of successful candidates before investigations into complaints and allegations had been completed.
He alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner had allegedly been brought in for this very purpose. However, he emphasized that the PPP believes in democratic struggle and would pursue its case at every constitutional and democratic forum to protect the mandate of the people.
Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin said that Azad Kashmir is already facing serious political, economic, and administrative challenges. In such circumstances, he questioned what a government surrounded by allegations of electoral rigging could deliver to the people.
He said that for a government whose very foundation is based on a disputed electoral process, gaining public confidence would be a major challenge.
He also alleged that the PML-N Azad Kashmir wants to create further political polarization instead of promoting political stability.
He said that under the prevailing circumstances, political parties must rise above personal and party interests and work for the broader interests of Azad Kashmir, democratic principles, and the protection of the people’s right to vote.
Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin made it clear that the PPP would not relinquish its constitutional and democratic right to challenge the election results. He said that the party leadership and workers would continue their struggle to protect the people’s mandate and would not back down from their demand for a transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities in the electoral process.