Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has suspended two presiding officers after they were arrested over allegations of Poll Rigging during the ongoing local elections. The commission said immediate action was taken to protect the integrity of the election process.
According to an official spokesperson for the AJK Election Commission, the two presiding officers were found carrying two polling bags to a private residence instead of their assigned polling station. The incident raised serious concerns, prompting swift intervention by election authorities.
The spokesperson said a returning officer quickly took control of the polling bags after learning about the situation. New presiding officers were immediately appointed and sent to the polling station to ensure voting continued without unnecessary disruption.
The Election Commission confirmed that disciplinary action has been started against the suspended officials. Authorities stated that any negligence or violation of election rules would be dealt with strictly. They also stressed that maintaining transparent and fair elections remains their top priority.
The commission added that all possible steps are being taken to ensure a free, impartial, and credible voting process across Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said no compromise would be made on election transparency or public trust.
The incident also triggered a political response. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah called for the postponement of elections in Kotli constituency LA-10 following the arrests and suspension of the two election officials.
Rana Sanaullah urged the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and the Chief Election Commissioner to order a full inquiry into the actions of the accused officials, identified as Saqlain and Qaiser Patwari. He alleged that the matter could involve Poll Rigging and said a detailed investigation was necessary before polling continued.
He further demanded that voting in Kotli LA-10 should remain suspended until the inquiry is completed. According to him, investigators must first determine why the polling bags were taken to a private residence instead of the designated polling station.
Rana Sanaullah also mentioned that Chaudhry Yasin serves as the president of the Azad Kashmir Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), while emphasizing the importance of a transparent investigation regardless of political affiliations.
The Election Commission has not announced any changes to the election schedule so far. However, officials have assured voters that strict monitoring is continuing across all constituencies. They reiterated that Poll Rigging or any attempt to influence the electoral process would not be tolerated.
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The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further updates are expected once the inquiry is completed. Election authorities have pledged to take all necessary measures to uphold the credibility of the democratic process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
