PPP Seeks Re-Polling at High-Turnout Stations in AJK Elections
The Pakistan Peoples Party has demanded fresh voting at polling stations where turnout exceeded 80 percent during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, escalating its challenge to the conduct of the closely watched regional polls. The demand emerged on Sunday as voting continued in the second phase across Muzaffarabad Division and constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees living elsewhere in Pakistan.
According to party sources, the PPP formally raised the issue during negotiations with a government delegation. Its representatives argued that unusually high turnout at selected polling stations required further examination and asked that voting be repeated at every location where the participation rate crossed the 80 percent threshold.
The government delegation did not immediately announce acceptance or rejection of the proposal. It assured the PPP representatives that their demand would be conveyed to the relevant political leadership for consideration, leaving open the possibility of further consultations or a formal response after election officials review the available records.
The latest request builds on complaints submitted by the PPP after the first phase of polling in Mirpur Division. The party had previously sought re-elections in four constituencies, alleging that manipulation affected the process and claiming that supporting material had been provided to the authorities. Party sources linked those complaints to contests involving Chaudhry Yasin, Javed Budhanvi, Pervaiz Ashraf and Chaudhry Akhlaq.
PPP leaders have also called for transparent polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the refugee constituencies. The second phase covers 21 seats, including nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad and 12 refugee seats. Kashmiri voters based in different parts of Pakistan, including Karachi and Lahore, are participating in the electoral exercise, with polling scheduled to continue without interruption until 5pm.
Authorities have deployed an extensive security presence to protect polling stations, election staff and voters. Personnel drawn from all four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan have been assigned duties as officials attempt to prevent violence, disruption or interference during a politically sensitive phase of the election.
Tensions surrounding the AJK polls intensified after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz secured nine of the 13 seats contested in Mirpur Division during the first phase. The PPP disputed parts of that outcome and alleged irregularities, while the PML-N rejected suggestions of an organised effort to influence the results. The disagreement carries wider political importance because the two parties cooperate at the federal level despite competing directly in AJK.
A turnout above 80 percent does not automatically establish wrongdoing, but the PPP believes such figures should trigger detailed verification of voter lists, ballot records and polling-station documentation. Election authorities may therefore face pressure to determine whether the reported participation levels reflect genuine mobilisation or require investigation under the applicable electoral procedures.
The controversy could affect public confidence in the remaining phases, the acceptance of final results and relations between major political parties. The next steps are expected to depend on the response from the government, the AJK Election Commission and party leadership, as well as any legal petitions supported by polling records. A transparent review and timely decision will be critical to preventing the dispute from overshadowing the completion of the election process.