MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir |English): Polling bags have been moved to Muzaffarabad after political tensions escalated in constituency LA-17 Haveli, the constituency of Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.
The election result of the constituency has also been delayed due to the political tensions.
According to a private TV channel, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has summoned the polling bags of constituency LA-17 Haveli to the central office in Muzaffarabad on an emergency basis. The final result of the constituency could not be issued yet.
Polling bags filled with ballots are being transported from Haveli to Muzaffarabad via Bagh under strict security.
According to the Election Commission, instructions have been issued to shift the polling bags of LA-17 Haveli to the central office to keep them secure and protect them from any potential damage amid controversy over the victory claims.
Political tension has increased due to the delay in the election result of the constituency as both candidates claimed their victory. Thousands of Muslim League workers were holding a sit-in outside the RO office over the demand for recounting.
According to Muslim League (N) sources, an assurance was given by the Election Commission on Tuesday evening that a recount would be conducted, upon which the sit-in ended, but instead of a recount, the bags have been summoned to Muzaffarabad.
On the other hand, PPP sources say that polling bags were summoned to Muzaffarabad for safe keeping and the final result will be issued after the counting of employees’ votes.
LA-17 controversy
PPP candidate, Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, has claimed that he secured 31,839 votes and has won from the constituency.
On the other side, Muslim League (N) candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz has said that he has won with a lead of 6,000 votes, however, according to him, an attempt is being made to present him as a defeated candidate through alleged tampering in the results.
Injustice was done to Mohsin Aziz, a recount should be conducted, PML-N leaders Shah Ghulam Qadir and Farooq Haider said.
Muslim League (N) Azad Kashmir President Shah Ghulam Qadir, expressing severe reservations over the election results, alleged that great injustice was done to party candidate Mohsin Aziz, and alleged that an attempt was being made to deprive him of his legitimate right by preparing fake results.
Former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and central leader of Muslim League-N, Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan said that the insult to the public mandate in Haveli will not be tolerated under any circumstances. “Changing results through rigging is an insult to the public mandate.”
During a telephone conversation with Muslim League (N) candidate Mohsin Aziz, Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan said that Faisal Rathore should refuse to accept the rigged results himself while upholding the dignity of Mumtaz Rathore’s name.
