• PML-N, PPP trade fresh barbs over AJK elections.
• Bilawal vows to resist in remaining AJK polls.
• PML-N won 9, PPP secured 4 seats in first phase.
  

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) continued to trade barbs over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections on Wednesday, with both parties accusing each other of electoral rigging.

The exchange of heated words between the allies at the Centre has continued since the first phase of AJK elections held on July 17.

According to the results, the PML-N won nine seats while the PPP secured four of the 13 seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections in the Mirpur division.

The PPP had criticised PML-N and the conduct of the AJK elections, saying that the state must decide whether national interest or the PML-N interest was more important.

Taking to X, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz rejected allegations of electoral rigging levelled against her party, saying the claims were ironic coming from the PPP.

Maryam said the PPP, which she described as the “master” of sophisticated rigging”, was now complaining about electoral manipulation.

Meanwhile, addressing a pubic gathering in Muzafarabad — where the second phase of the elections is scheduled for August 2 — PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari accused the PML-N of “having a history” of coming to power through “electoral rigging”.

He said that the PML-N is “the product of rigging from one generation to the next” and vowed the PPP would not allow any manipulation of the electoral process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Without naming PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Bilawal said that the party’s first chief minister in Punjab had assumed office through rigged elections.

“Those holding the offices of prime minister and Punjab chief minister today — everyone knows they are there not because of their performance or the people’s votes, but because of Form-47.”

He also urged the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf not to boycott the elections, saying they should instead participate in the electoral process. Bilawal argued that by boycotting the polls, PTI supporters were creating opportunities for others.

Bilawal said that only the PPP had the solution to the challenges facing the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.