MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): A major political development has taken place in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where the election tribunal has nullified the victory of Mir Akbar Khan, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member elected from constituency LA-16 (East Bagh).
The verdict was announced by Election Tribunal Judge Hafiz Muhammad Akram in Muzaffarabad after reviewing a petition challenging the 2021 election results. The tribunal ruled that rigging in favor of Mir Akbar Khan had been proven. As a result, his victory was declared void, his membership in the assembly was revoked, and he lost his ministerial position.
The court has ordered fresh and transparent elections in LA-16 to ensure fairness in the democratic process.
This decision comes at a critical time, with general elections in Azad Kashmir expected within the next year. The case against Mir Akbar Khan has raised serious concerns about electoral transparency and fairness.
The situation is further complicated by the weakened structure of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission. The post of Chief Election Commissioner remains vacant, and only one member, Syed Nazir-ul-Hasan Gilani, is currently active in the commission. According to procedure, Mir Akbar Khan cannot be officially denotified until a Chief Election Commissioner is appointed.
The verdict has intensified public debate over the credibility of past elections and the upcoming electoral process. Many are questioning how future polls will be conducted fairly if key administrative roles remain unfilled.
The tribunal’s ruling marks a historic moment, as rarely have sitting assembly members and ministers been unseated due to proven rigging. The case of Mir Akbar Khan now stands as a major test for Azad Kashmir’s democratic institutions.
